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Cancer and Oncology
Tumour types, cancer biology, screening, diagnosis and treatment research. 107 evidence-grounded articles.
A B C D E F G H I L M N O P R S T W
Adenocarcinoma in Situ
A lesion with cytological characteristics associated with invasive adenocarcinoma but the tumor cells are confined to the glandular epithelial cells of origin.
Adrenocortical Carcinoma
A malignant neoplasm of the adrenal cortex.
Angiomyolipoma
A benign tumor containing vascular, adipose, and muscle elements.
Avian Leukosis
A group of transmissible viral diseases of chickens and turkeys.
Basal Cell Carcinoma
A malignant skin neoplasm that seldom metastasizes but has potentialities for local invasion and destruction.
Blast Crisis
An advanced phase of chronic myelogenous leukemia, characterized by a rapid increase in the proportion of immature white blood cells (blasts) in the blood and bone marrow to greater than 30%.
Bone Cysts
Benign unilocular lytic areas in the proximal end of a long bone with well defined and narrow endosteal margins.
Burkitt Lymphoma
A form of undifferentiated malignant lymphoma usually found in central Africa, but also reported in other parts of the world.
Carcinoid Tumor
A usually small, slow-growing neoplasm composed of islands of rounded, oxyphilic, or spindle-shaped cells of medium size, with moderately small vesicular nuclei, and covered by intact mucosa with a yellow cut surface.
Carcinoma
A malignant neoplasm made up of epithelial cells tending to infiltrate the surrounding tissues and give rise to metastases.
Carcinoma in Situ
A lesion with cytological characteristics associated with invasive carcinoma but the tumor cells are confined to the epithelium of origin, without invasion of the basement membrane.
Carcinosarcoma
A malignant neoplasm that contains elements of carcinoma and sarcoma so extensively intermixed as to indicate neoplasia of epithelial and mesenchymal tissue.
Chondroblastoma
A usually benign tumor composed of cells which arise from chondroblasts or their precursors and which tend to differentiate into cartilage cells.
Chondroma
A benign neoplasm derived from mesodermal cells that form cartilage.
Chondrosarcoma
A slowly growing malignant neoplasm derived from cartilage cells, occurring most frequently in pelvic bones or near the ends of long bones, in middle-aged and old people.
Chordoma
A malignant tumor arising from the embryonic remains of the notochord.
Choriocarcinoma
A malignant metastatic form of trophoblastic tumors.
Craniopharyngioma
A benign pituitary-region neoplasm that originates from Rathke's pouch.
Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma
A primary melanoma that originates from atypical skin melanocytes, especially from acquired and congenital melanocytic nevi, and dysplastic nevi.
Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma
A non-melanoma skin neoplasm that is one of the three principal types of skin cancer.
Cystadenocarcinoma
A malignant neoplasm derived from glandular epithelium, in which cystic accumulations of retained secretions are formed.
Cystadenoma
A benign neoplasm derived from glandular epithelium, in which cystic accumulations of retained secretions are formed.
Dentigerous Cyst
Most common follicular odontogenic cyst.
Dermatofibrosarcoma
A sarcoma of the deep layers of the skin.
Dermoid Cyst
A tumor consisting of displaced ectodermal structures along the lines of embryonic fusion, the wall being formed of epithelium-lined connective tissue, including skin appendages, and containing keratin, sebum, and hair.
Desmoid Tumors
Locally aggressive tumors that form in the connective tissues of body with no known potential for metastasis.
Dysgerminoma
A malignant ovarian neoplasm, thought to be derived from primordial germ cells of the sexually undifferentiated embryonic gonad.
Ependymoma
Glioma derived from ependymoglial cells that tend to present as malignant intracranial tumors in children and as benign intraspinal neoplasms in adults.
Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
A carcinoma that originates usually from cells on the surface of the middle and lower third of the esophagus.
Fibroadenoma
An adenoma containing fibrous tissue.
Fibrosarcoma
A sarcoma derived from deep fibrous tissue, characterized by bundles of immature proliferating fibroblasts with variable collagen formation, which tends to invade locally and metastasize by the bloodstream.
Ganglioglioma
Rare indolent tumors comprised of neoplastic glial and neuronal cells which occur primarily in children and young adults.
Ganglioneuroma
A benign neoplasm that usually arises from the sympathetic trunk in the mediastinum.
Gastrinoma
A gastrin-secreting neuroendocrine tumor of the non-beta islet cells, the gastrin-secreting cells.
Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors
All tumors in the gastrointestinal tract arising from mesenchymal cells (mesoderm) except those of smooth muscle cells (leiomyoma) or Schwann cells (schwannoma).
Gestational Trophoblastic Disease
A group of diseases arising from pregnancy that are commonly associated with hyperplasia of trophoblasts (trophoblast) and markedly elevated human chorionic gonadotropin.
Giant Cell Tumor of Bone
A bone tumor composed of cellular spindle-cell stroma containing scattered multinucleated giant cells resembling osteoclasts.
Giant Cell Tumors
Tumors of bone tissue or synovial or other soft tissue characterized by the presence of giant cells.
Glioblastoma
A malignant form of astrocytoma histologically characterized by pleomorphism of cells, nuclear atypia, microhemorrhage, and necrosis.
Glioma
Benign and malignant central nervous system neoplasms derived from glial cells (i.e., astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and ependymocytes).
Gliosarcoma
Rare mixed tumors of the brain and rarely the spinal cord which contain malignant neuroectodermal (glial) and mesenchymal components, including spindle-shaped fibrosarcoma cells.
Granular Cell Tumor
Unusual tumor affecting any site of the body, but most often encountered in the head and neck.
Granulosa Cell Tumor
A neoplasm composed entirely of granulosa cells, occurring mostly in the ovary.
Hamartoma
A focal malformation resembling a neoplasm, composed of an overgrowth of mature cells and tissues that normally occur in the affected area.
Hepatoblastoma
A malignant neoplasm occurring in young children, primarily in the liver, composed of tissue resembling embryonal or fetal hepatic epithelium, or mixed epithelial and mesenchymal tissues.
Hodgkin Disease
A malignant disease characterized by progressive enlargement of the lymph nodes, spleen, and general lymphoid tissue.
Hydatidiform Mole
Trophoblastic hyperplasia associated with normal gestation, or molar pregnancy.
Insulinoma
A benign tumor of the pancreatic beta cells.
Leiomyoma
A benign tumor derived from smooth muscle tissue, also known as a fibroid tumor.
Leiomyosarcoma
A sarcoma containing large spindle cells of smooth muscle.
Leukemia
A progressive, malignant disease of the blood-forming organs, characterized by distorted proliferation and development of leukocytes and their precursors in the blood and bone marrow.
Leydig Cell Tumor
Gonadal interstitial or stromal cell neoplasm composed of only leydig cells.
Limbic Encephalitis
A paraneoplastic syndrome marked by degeneration of neurons in the limbic system.
Lipoma
A benign tumor composed of fat cells (adipocytes).
Liposarcoma
A malignant tumor derived from primitive or embryonal lipoblastic cells.
Lymphangioleiomyomatosis
A disease characterized by the progressive invasion of smooth muscle cells into the lymphatic vessels, and the blood vessels.
Lymphangioma
A benign tumor resulting from a congenital malformation of the lymphatic system.
Lymphocele
Cystic mass containing lymph from diseased lymphatic channels or following surgical trauma or other injury.
Mastocytoma
A solid tumor consisting of a dense infiltration of mast cells.
Mastocytosis
A rare neoplastic disorder characterized by a clonal proliferation of mast cells, associated with kit-d816 mutations, and accompanied by aberrant mast cell activation.
Medulloblastoma
A malignant neoplasm that may be classified either as a glioma or as a primitive neuroectodermal tumor of childhood (see neuroectodermal tumor, primitive).
Melanoma
A malignant neoplasm derived from cells that are capable of forming melanin, which may occur in the skin of any part of the body, in the eye, or, rarely, in the mucous membranes of the genitalia, anus, oral cavity, or other sites.
Meningioma
A relatively common neoplasm of the central nervous system that arises from arachnoidal cells.
Mesothelioma
A tumor derived from mesothelial tissue (peritoneum, pleura, pericardium).
Mucocele
A retention cyst of the salivary gland, lacrimal sac, paranasal sinuses, appendix, or gallbladder.
Multiple Myeloma
A malignancy of mature plasma cells engaging in monoclonal immunoglobulin production.
Myasthenia Gravis
A disorder of neuromuscular transmission characterized by fatigable weakness of cranial and skeletal muscles with elevated titers of acetylcholine receptors or muscle-specific receptor tyrosine kinase (MuSK) autoantibodies.
Mycosis Fungoides
A chronic, malignant T-cell lymphoma of the skin.
Myelolipoma
A rare benign tumor of the adrenal gland, several centimeters in diameter, composed in varying proportions of adipose tissue, lymphocytes, and primitive myeloid cells, probably a developmental abnormality.
Myxoma
A benign neoplasm derived from connective tissue, consisting chiefly of polyhedral and stellate cells that are loosely embedded in a soft mucoid matrix, thereby resembling primitive mesenchymal tissue.
Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
A carcinoma that originates in the epithelium of the nasopharynx and includes four subtypes: keratinizing squamous cell, non-keratinizing, basaloid squamous cell, and papillary adenocarcinoma.
Neoplasms
New abnormal growth of tissue.
Neurilemmoma
A neoplasm that arises from schwann cells of the cranial, peripheral, and autonomic nerves.
Neuroblastoma
A common neoplasm of early childhood arising from neural crest cells in the sympathetic nervous system, and characterized by diverse clinical behavior, ranging from spontaneous remission to rapid metastatic progression and death.
Neuroectodermal Tumors
Malignant neoplasms arising in the neuroectoderm, the portion of the ectoderm of the early embryo that gives rise to the central and peripheral nervous systems, including some glial cells.
Neuroendocrine Tumors
Tumors whose cells possess secretory granules and originate from the neuroectoderm, i.e., the cells of the ectoblast or epiblast that program the neuroendocrine system.
Neurofibroma
A moderately firm, benign, encapsulated tumor resulting from proliferation of schwann cells and fibroblasts that includes portions of nerve fibers.
Odontogenic Cysts
Cysts found in the jaws and arising from epithelium involved in tooth formation.
Oligodendroglioma
A relatively slow-growing glioma that is derived from oligodendrocytes and tends to occur in the cerebral hemispheres, thalamus, or lateral ventricle.
Osteoblastoma
A benign, painful, tumor of bone characterized by the formation of osteoid tissue, primitive bone and calcified tissue.
Osteochondroma
A cartilage-capped benign tumor that often appears as a stalk on the surface of bone.
Osteoma
A benign tumor composed of bone tissue or a hard tumor of bonelike structure developing on a bone (homoplastic osteoma) or on other structures (heteroplastic osteoma).
Osteosarcoma
A sarcoma originating in bone-forming cells, affecting the ends of long bones.
Pancreatic Cyst
A true cyst of the pancreas, distinguished from the much more common pancreatic pseudocyst by possessing a lining of mucous epithelium.
Pancreatic Pseudocyst
Cyst-like space not lined by epithelium and contained within the pancreas.
Papilloma
A circumscribed benign epithelial tumor projecting from the surrounding surface; more precisely, a benign epithelial neoplasm consisting of villous or arborescent outgrowths of fibrovascular stroma covered by neoplastic cells.
Paraganglioma
A neural crest tumor usually derived from the chromoreceptor tissue of a paraganglion, such as the carotid body, or medulla of the adrenal gland (usually called a chromaffinoma or pheochromocytoma).
Pheochromocytoma
A usually benign, well-encapsulated, lobular, vascular tumor of chromaffin tissue of the adrenal medulla or sympathetic paraganglia.
Phyllodes Tumor
A type of connective tissue neoplasm typically arising from intralobular stroma of the breast.
Plasmacytoma
Any discrete, presumably solitary, mass of neoplastic plasma cells either in bone marrow or various extramedullary sites.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
A complex disorder characterized by infertility, hirsutism; obesity; and various menstrual disturbances such as oligomenorrhea; amenorrhea; anovulation.
Prolactinoma
A pituitary adenoma which secretes prolactin, leading to hyperprolactinemia.
Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia
A premalignant change arising in the prostatic epithelium, regarded as the most important and most likely precursor of prostatic adenocarcinoma.
Pseudomyxoma Peritonei
A peritoneal adenocarcinoma characterized by build-up of mucus in the peritoneal cavity.
Retinoblastoma
A malignant tumor arising from the nuclear layer of the retina that is the most common primary tumor of the eye in children.
Rhabdoid Tumor
A rare but highly lethal childhood tumor found almost exclusively in infants.
Rhabdomyoma
A benign tumor derived from striated muscle.
Rhabdomyosarcoma
A malignant solid tumor arising from mesenchymal tissues which normally differentiate to form striated muscle.
Sarcoma
A connective tissue neoplasm formed by proliferation of mesodermal cells; it is usually highly malignant.
Seminoma
A radiosensitive, malignant neoplasm of the testis, thought to be derived from primordial germ cells of the sexually undifferentiated embryonic gonad.
Sezary Syndrome
A form of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma manifested by generalized exfoliative erythroderma; pruritus; peripheral lymphadenopathy, and abnormal hyperchromatic mononuclear (cerebriform) cells in the skin, lymph nodes, and peripheral blo
Solitary Fibrous Tumors
Rare neoplasms of mesenchymal origin, usually benign, and most commonly involving the pleura (see solitary fibrous tumor, pleural).
Sturge-Weber Syndrome
A non-inherited congenital condition with vascular and neurological abnormalities.
Teratocarcinoma
A malignant neoplasm consisting of elements of teratoma with those of embryonal carcinoma or choriocarcinoma, or both.
Teratoma
A true neoplasm composed of a number of different types of tissue, none of which is native to the area in which it occurs.
Thymoma
A neoplasm originating from thymic tissue, usually benign, and frequently encapsulated.
Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia
A lymphoproliferative disorder characterized by pleomorphic b-lymphocytes including plasma cells, with increased levels of monoclonal serum immunoglobulin M.