Neoplasia

Neoplasia

Definition
The neoplasm (tumor) is an abnormal mass of tissue; the growth of which is virtually autonomous and exceeds that of normal tissue and persists after cessation of stimuli that initiate the growth (unlike non-neoplastic proliferation e.g. hyperplasia, regeneration and repair).
Neoplasms are generally classified into 2 types: benign and malignant.

Nomenclature
2 basic components: The transformed neoplastic cells and non transformed elements such as connective tissue.
The classification of neoplasms is based on their parenchyma.
Benign tumors:
In general; their names end with suffix "oma" e.g. benign mesenchymal tumors are named as tissue of origin + oma like leiomyoma, lipoma and chondroma; while benign epithelial tumors are named as architecture + oma like adenoma (tumor arising from glandular tissue) and papilloma (tumor producing finger like projections).

Malignant tumors:
Generally called cancers; their nomenclature is based on their appearance and presumed histologic origin.