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Carcinoma
 
 
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A carcinoma is any malignant
Malignant

Malignant is a medical term used to describe a severe and progressively worsening disease. The term is most familiar as a description of cancer....
 cancer
Cancer

Cancer is a class of diseases in which a group of cell display uncontrolled growth , invasion , and sometimes metastasis . These three malignant properties of cancers differentiate them from benign tumors, which are self-limited, do not invade or metastasize....
 that arises from epithelial cells
Epithelium

In biology and medicine, epithelium is a Biological tissue composed of cell s that line the cavities and surfaces of structures throughout the body....
. Carcinomas invade surrounding tissues and organs and may metastasize
Metastasis

Metastasis , or Metastatic disease, sometimes abbreviated mets, is the spread of a disease from one Organ or part to another non-adjacent organ or part....
, or spread, to lymph node
Lymph node

A Lymph node is an organ consisting of many types of cells, and is a part of the lymphatic system. Lymph nodes are found all through the body, and act as filters or traps for foreign particles....
s and other sites.

Carcinoma in situ
Carcinoma in situ

Carcinoma in situ is an early form of carcinoma defined by the absence of invasion of surrounding tissues. In other words, the neoplasm proliferate in their normal habitat, hence the name 'in situ' ....
 (CIS) is a pre-malignant condition, in which some cytological signs of malignancy are present, but there is no histological evidence of invasion through the epithelial basement membrane
Basement membrane

The basement membrane is a sheet of cells and fibers that covers two other kinds of cells -- the epithelium, which lines the cavities and surfaces of organs, and the endothelium, which lines the interior surface of blood vessels....
.

inoma, like all neoplasia, is classified by its histopathological appearance.






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Encyclopedia


A carcinoma is any malignant
Malignant

Malignant is a medical term used to describe a severe and progressively worsening disease. The term is most familiar as a description of cancer....
 cancer
Cancer

Cancer is a class of diseases in which a group of cell display uncontrolled growth , invasion , and sometimes metastasis . These three malignant properties of cancers differentiate them from benign tumors, which are self-limited, do not invade or metastasize....
 that arises from epithelial cells
Epithelium

In biology and medicine, epithelium is a Biological tissue composed of cell s that line the cavities and surfaces of structures throughout the body....
. Carcinomas invade surrounding tissues and organs and may metastasize
Metastasis

Metastasis , or Metastatic disease, sometimes abbreviated mets, is the spread of a disease from one Organ or part to another non-adjacent organ or part....
, or spread, to lymph node
Lymph node

A Lymph node is an organ consisting of many types of cells, and is a part of the lymphatic system. Lymph nodes are found all through the body, and act as filters or traps for foreign particles....
s and other sites.

Carcinoma in situ
Carcinoma in situ

Carcinoma in situ is an early form of carcinoma defined by the absence of invasion of surrounding tissues. In other words, the neoplasm proliferate in their normal habitat, hence the name 'in situ' ....
 (CIS) is a pre-malignant condition, in which some cytological signs of malignancy are present, but there is no histological evidence of invasion through the epithelial basement membrane
Basement membrane

The basement membrane is a sheet of cells and fibers that covers two other kinds of cells -- the epithelium, which lines the cavities and surfaces of organs, and the endothelium, which lines the interior surface of blood vessels....
.

Classification

Carcinoma, like all neoplasia, is classified by its histopathological appearance. Adenocarcinoma
Adenocarcinoma

Adenocarcinoma is a cancer that originates in glandular tissue. This tissue is also part of a larger tissue category known as epithelial tissue....
 and squamous cell carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma

In medicine, squamous cell carcinoma is a form of cancer of the carcinoma type that may occur in many different organs, including the skin, lips, mouth, esophagus, urinary bladder, prostate, lungs, vagina, and cervix....
, two common descriptive terms for tumor
Tumor

A tumor or tumour is the name for a swelling or lesion formed by an abnormal growth of cells . Tumor is not synonymous with cancer. A tumor can be Benign neoplasm, Carcinoma in situ or malignant, whereas cancer is by definition malignant....
s, reflect the fact that these cells may have gland
Gland

A gland is an Organ in an animal's body that synthesizes a substance for release such as hormones or breast milk, often into the bloodstream or into cavities inside the body or its outer surface ....
ular or squamous cell appearances respectively. Severely anaplastic tumors might be so undifferentiated that they do not have a distinct histological appearance (undifferentiated carcinoma).

Sometimes a tumor is referred to by the presumptive organ of the primary (eg carcinoma of the prostate
Prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is a disease in which cancer develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. It occurs when cell s of the prostate Mutation and begin to multiply out of control....
) or the putative cell of origin (hepatocellular carcinoma
Hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma is a primary cancer of the liver. Most cases of HCC are secondary to either a viral hepatitis infection or cirrhosis ....
, renal cell carcinoma
Renal cell carcinoma

Renal cell carcinoma is a kidney cancer that originates in the lining of the proximal renal tubule, the very small tubes in the kidney that filter the blood and remove waste products....
).

Types by ICD-O (International Classification of Diseases - Oncology) Code

(8010-8790) Epithelial
  • (8010-8040) Epithelial neoplasms, NOS
  • (8050-8080) Squamous cell neoplasms
    • Squamous cell carcinoma
      Squamous cell carcinoma

      In medicine, squamous cell carcinoma is a form of cancer of the carcinoma type that may occur in many different organs, including the skin, lips, mouth, esophagus, urinary bladder, prostate, lungs, vagina, and cervix....
      , NOS
  • (8090-8110) Basal cell neoplasms
    • Basal cell carcinoma
      Basal cell carcinoma

      Basal cell carcinoma is the most common of all types of skin cancer. Statistically speaking, approximately 3 out of 10 caucasians develop a basal cell cancer within their lifetime....
      , NOS
  • (8120-8130) Transitional cell papillomas and carcinomas
  • (8140-8380) Adenomas and Adenocarcinomas (gland
    Gland

    A gland is an Organ in an animal's body that synthesizes a substance for release such as hormones or breast milk, often into the bloodstream or into cavities inside the body or its outer surface ....
    s)
    • Adenoma
      Adenoma

      An adenoma is a collection of growths of glandular origin. Adenomas can grow from many organs including the colon , adrenal, pituitary, thyroid, etc....
      , NOS
    • Adenocarcinoma
      Adenocarcinoma

      Adenocarcinoma is a cancer that originates in glandular tissue. This tissue is also part of a larger tissue category known as epithelial tissue....
      , NOS
    • Linitis plastica
      Linitis plastica

      Linitis plastica, also known as Brinton's disease, is seen in diffuse stomach cancer.The other causes of linitis plastica could be Sodium hydroxide ingestion or Metastasis of the stomach....
    • Insulinoma
      Insulinoma

      An insulinoma is a tumour of the pancreas derived from the beta cells which while retaining the ability to synthesize and secrete insulin is autonomous of the normal feedback mechanisms....
      , NOS
    • Glucagonoma
      Glucagonoma

      A glucagonoma is a rare tumor of the alpha cells of the pancreas that results in up to a 1000-fold overproduction of the hormone glucagon. Alpha cell tumors are commonly associated with glucagonoma syndrome, though similar symptoms are present in cases of pseudoglucagonoma syndrome in the absence of a glucagon-secreting tumor....
      , NOS
    • Gastrinoma
      Gastrinoma

      A gastrinoma is a tumor that secretes gastrin.It is frequently the source of the gastrin in Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.It is most commonly found in the duodenum and less commonly in the pancreas....
      , NOS
    • Vipoma
      VIPoma

      A VIPoma is a rare endocrine tumor, usually originating in the pancreas, which produces vasoactive intestinal peptide .A syndrome caused by non-? islet cell tumors....
    • Cholangiocarcinoma
      Cholangiocarcinoma

      Cholangiocarcinoma is a cancer of the bile ducts, which drain bile from the liver into the small intestine. Other biliary tract cancers include pancreatic cancer, gall bladder cancer, and cancer of the ampulla of Vater....
    • Hepatocellular carcinoma
      Hepatocellular carcinoma

      Hepatocellular carcinoma is a primary cancer of the liver. Most cases of HCC are secondary to either a viral hepatitis infection or cirrhosis ....
      , NOS
    • Adenoid cystic carcinoma
      Adenoid cystic carcinoma

      Adenoid cystic cancer is an uncommon type of cancer that can exist in many different body sites. It most often occurs in the areas of the head and neck, in particular the salivary glands; but has also been reported in the breast, lacrimal gland of the eye, lung, brain, bartholin gland, Vertebrate trachea, and the paranasal sinuses....
    • Carcinoid
      Carcinoid

      Carcinoid is a slow-growing but malignant type of neuroendocrine tumour, originating in the cells of the neuroendocrine system.In 2000, the World Health Organization redefined "carcinoid", but this new definition has not been accepted by all practitioners....
       tumor, NOS, of appendix
      Appendix

      Appendix, from the Latin word of the same name, may refer to an Index / Bibliography.* In book design, an appendix is a reference section at the end of a book ...
    • Prolactinoma
      Prolactinoma

      A prolactinoma is a benign tumor of the pituitary gland that produces a hormone called prolactin. It is the most common type of pituitary tumor....
    • Oncocytoma
      Oncocytoma

      An oncocytoma is a tumor made up of oncocytes, a special kind of cell s. ...
    • Hurthle cell adenoma
    • Renal cell carcinoma
      Renal cell carcinoma

      Renal cell carcinoma is a kidney cancer that originates in the lining of the proximal renal tubule, the very small tubes in the kidney that filter the blood and remove waste products....
    • Grawitz tumor
    • Multiple endocrine adenomas
    • Endometrioid adenoma, NOS
  • (8390-8420) Adnexal and Skin appendage
    Skin appendage

    Skin appendages are appendages that are associated with the skin and serve a particular function. In humans some of the more common skin appendages are hairs , arrector pilli , sebaceous glands , sweat glands and nail ....
     Neoplasms
  • (8430-8439) Mucoepidermoid Neoplasms
  • (8440-8490) Cystic, Mucinous and Serous Neoplasms
    • Cystadenoma
      Cystadenoma

      Cystadenoma refers to a type of cystic adenoma.When malignant, it is called cystadenocarcinoma....
      , NOS
    • Pseudomyxoma peritonei
      Pseudomyxoma peritonei

      Pseudomyxoma peritonei is an uncommon tumor known for its production of mucus in the abdominal cavity. If left untreated, mucin will eventually build up to the point where it compresses vital structures: the colon , the liver, kidneys, etc....
  • (8500-8540) Ductal, Lobular and Medullary Neoplasms
  • (8550-8559) Acinar cell
    Acinar cell

    Acinar cell can refer to:exocrine cells of the pancreas, which release hydrolytic enzymes into the small intestine .* Centroacinar cells of the pancreas...
     neoplasms
  • (8560-8580) Complex epithelial neoplasms
    • Warthin's tumor
      Warthin's tumor

      Warthin's tumor or Warthin tumour, also known as wiktionary:Papillary cystadenoma lymphomatosum, is a type of benign tumor of the salivary glands....
    • Thymoma
      Thymoma

      In medicine , thymoma is a tumor originating from the thymus. It consists of any type of thymic epithelial cell as well as lymphocytes that are usually abundant and probably not neoplastic....
      , NOS
  • (8590-8670) Specialized gonadal neoplasms
    • Sex cord-stromal tumor
    • Thecoma
      Thecoma

      Thecomas or theca cell tumors are benign Ovarian cancers composed only of theca cells. Histogenetically they are classified as sex cord-stromal tumours....
      , NOS
    • Granulosa cell tumor, NOS
    • Arrhenoblastoma, NOS
    • Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor
  • (8680-8710) Paragangliomas and Glomus tumor
    Glomus tumor

    A glomus tumor is a rare benign neoplasm, is a specialized arteriovenous anastomosis usually found in the skin of the extremities. It arises from the glomus body, and was first described at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York in New York City....
    s
    • Paraganglioma
      Paraganglioma

      A paraganglioma is a rare neoplasm that can be found in the abdomen, thorax, and in the head and neck region. They are usually considered benign and complete surgical removal results in cure....
      , NOS
    • Pheochromocytoma
      Pheochromocytoma

      A phaeochromocytoma is a neuroendocrine tumor of the Adrenal medulla of the adrenal glands , or extra-adrenal chromaffin tissue that failed to involute after birth and secretes excessive amounts of catecholamines, usually epinephrine and norepinephrine....
      , NOS
    • Glomus tumor
      Glomus tumor

      A glomus tumor is a rare benign neoplasm, is a specialized arteriovenous anastomosis usually found in the skin of the extremities. It arises from the glomus body, and was first described at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York in New York City....
  • (8720-8790) Nevi and Melanomas
    • Melanocytic nevus
    • Malignant melanoma, NOS
    • Melanoma
      Melanoma

      Melanoma is a malignant tumor of melanocytes which are found predominantly in skin but also in the bowel and the eye . It is one of the rarer types of skin cancer but causes the majority of skin cancer related deaths....
      , NOS
    • Nodular melanoma
      Nodular melanoma

      Nodular melanoma is the most aggressive form of melanoma. It grows in vertical direction from the outset and grows very fast . Nodular melanoma has no known precursor....
    • Dysplastic nevus
      Dysplastic nevus

      A dysplastic nevus, is an atypical melanocytic nevus; a mole whose appearance is different from that of common moles. Dysplastic nevi are generally larger than ordinary moles and have irregular and indistinct borders....
    • Lentigo maligna melanoma
      Lentigo maligna melanoma

      Lentigo maligna melanoma is a melanoma that has evolved from a lentigo maligna. They are usually found on chronically sun damaged skin such as the face and the forearms of the elderly....
    • Superficial spreading melanoma
      Superficial spreading melanoma

      Superficial spreading melanoma is usually characterized as the most common form of cutaneous melanoma in Caucasians. The average age at diagnosis is in the fifth decade, and it tends to occur on sun-exposed skin, especially on the backs of males and lower limbs of females....
    • Acral lentiginous melanoma
      Acral lentiginous melanoma

      Acral lentiginous melanoma is a kind of lentiginous skin melanoma. It is also known as subungual melanoma.Acral lentiginous melanoma is observed on the palms, soles and under the nails....
      , malignant


Types of lung carcinoma

  • Adenocarcinoma
    Adenocarcinoma

    Adenocarcinoma is a cancer that originates in glandular tissue. This tissue is also part of a larger tissue category known as epithelial tissue....
     is a malignant tumor originating in the epithelial cells of glandular tissue and forming glandular structures. This is common in the lung (forming 30-40% of all lung carcinomas
    Lung cancer

    Lung cancer is a disease of uncontrolled cell growth in tissue of the lung. This growth may lead to metastasis, which is the invasion of adjacent tissue and infiltration beyond the lungs....
    ). It is found peripherally, arising from goblet cell
    Goblet cell

    Goblet cells are glandular simple columnar epithelium Cell whose sole function is to secrete mucus. They use both apocrine and merocrine methods for secretion....
    s or type II pneumocyte
    Pneumocyte

    Two types of pneumocytes contribute to the maintenance of the alveoli of the lungs: Type I pneumocytes and Type II pneumocytes. These cells function to aid in gas exchange, secretion of pulmonary surfactant, and self-regeneration...
    s.


  • Squamous cell carcinoma
    Squamous cell carcinoma

    In medicine, squamous cell carcinoma is a form of cancer of the carcinoma type that may occur in many different organs, including the skin, lips, mouth, esophagus, urinary bladder, prostate, lungs, vagina, and cervix....
     due to squamous metaplasia. This accounts for 20-30 percent of lung tumors and is usually hilar
    Hilum

    A hilum is a depression or pit where structures are attached.* In human anatomy, the hilum is part of an Organ where structures such as blood vessels and nerves enter....
     in origin.


  • Small cell carcinoma
    Small cell carcinoma

    Small cell carcinoma is a type of highly malignant carcinoma usually associated with the lung, though it can be associated with other topographies, such as in cervical cancer....
     is almost certainly due to smoking. These metastasise early, and may secrete ADH (lowering patient sodium
    Sodium

    Sodium is an element which has the symbol Na , atomic number 11, atomic mass 23 amu , and a common oxidation number +1. Sodium is a soft, silvery white, highly reactive element and is a member of the alkali metals within "group 1" ....
     concentration).


  • Large cell undifferentiated carcinomas account for 10-15 percent of lung neoplasms. These are aggressive and difficult to recognise due to the undifferentiated nature. These are most commonly central in the lung.


  • Sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma


Staging and grading

The staging of cancers is the extent of spread of the neoplasm. Grading is the system used to record the tumors degree of differentiation from the parent tissue. High grade shows little differentiation and the prognosis is therefore poor.

Carcinomas, like all cancers, are staged according to the extent of disease. The UICC/AJCC TNM
TNM

The TNM Classification of Malignant Tumours is a cancer staging system that describes the extent of cancer in a patient?s body. T describes the size of the tumor and whether it has invaded nearby tissue, N describes regional lymph nodes that are involved, and M describes distant metastasis ....
 system is often used, however for some common tumors, classic staging methods (such as the Dukes classification for colon cancer) are still used.

See also

  • Cancer
    Cancer

    Cancer is a class of diseases in which a group of cell display uncontrolled growth , invasion , and sometimes metastasis . These three malignant properties of cancers differentiate them from benign tumors, which are self-limited, do not invade or metastasize....
  • Sarcoma
    Sarcoma

    A sarcoma is a cancer of the connective tissue resulting in mesoderm proliferation.This is in contrast to Carcinoma, which are of Epithelium origin ....
  • Hematological malignancy
    Hematological malignancy

    Hematological malignancies are the types of cancer that affect blood, bone marrow, and lymph nodes. As the three are intimately connected through the immune system, a disease affecting one of the three will often affect the others as well: although lymphoma is technically a disease of the lymph nodes, it often spreads to the bone marrow, affe...
  • Basal cell carcinoma
    Basal cell carcinoma

    Basal cell carcinoma is the most common of all types of skin cancer. Statistically speaking, approximately 3 out of 10 caucasians develop a basal cell cancer within their lifetime....