Neoplasia Definition and Nomenclature

Neoplasia Terminology

• 'Neoplasia' literally means 'new growth' or 'new formation,' referring to abnormal tissue growth.

Benign Neoplasms

• Benign neoplasms originating from epithelial tissues are named with the suffix ‘-oma.’
• An example includes adenoma, which arises from glandular tissue.

Glandular Neoplasms

• A benign epithelial neoplasm forming a glandular pattern is called an "adenoma."

Malignant Neoplasms

• A malignant neoplasm arising from mesenchymal tissue is termed "sarcoma."

Nonneoplastic Misnomers

• An example of a nonneoplastic misnomer is a "fibroma" which can sometimes refer to benign fibrous tissue growths that are not true neoplasms.

Malignant Epithelial Neoplasms

• Malignant neoplasms of epithelial cell origin derived from any of the three germ layers are known as "carcinomas."

Glandular Carcinoma

• The type of carcinoma characterized by glandular microscopic structures is known as "adenocarcinoma."

Mixed Tumors

• Tumors arising from more than one tissue component, containing parenchymal cells of more than one germ layer, are referred to as "mixed tumors."
• An example of such a mixed tumor is “teratoma,” which can contain various tissue types.

Mesenchymal Malignancies

• Malignant neoplasms arising from mesenchymal cell origin, including those derived from connective tissue, bone, and fat, are collectively called "sarcomas."

Test your understanding of neoplasia, including its definition, types, and naming conventions. Learn about the differences between benign and malignant neoplasms, and how they are classified based on histologic types and behavioral patterns.