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Malignant
 
 
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Malignant (from the Latin roots mal- = "bad" and -genus = "born") 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 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....
. A malignant tumor may be contrasted with a non-cancerous benign tumor in that a malignancy is not self-limited in its growth, is capable of invading into adjacent tissues, and may be capable of spreading to distant tissues (metastasizing
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....
), while a benign tumor has none of those properties.






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Malignant (from the Latin roots mal- = "bad" and -genus = "born") 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 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....
. A malignant tumor may be contrasted with a non-cancerous benign tumor in that a malignancy is not self-limited in its growth, is capable of invading into adjacent tissues, and may be capable of spreading to distant tissues (metastasizing
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....
), while a benign tumor has none of those properties. Malignant tumor is synonymous with cancer. Uses of "malignant" in oncology
Oncology

Oncology is the branch of medicine that studies tumors . A medical professional who practices oncology is an oncologist. The term originates from the Greek onkos , meaning bulk, mass, or tumor and the suffix -logy, meaning "study of"....
:
  • Malignancy, malignant neoplasm, and malignant tumor are synonymous with 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....
  • Malignant ascites
    Ascites

    In medicine , ascites is an accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity. Although most commonly due to cirrhosis and severe liver disease, its presence can portend other significant medical problems....
  • Malignant transformation
    Malignant transformation

    Malignant transformation is the process by which cells acquire the properties of cancer. This may occur as a primary process in normal tissue, or secondarily as malignant degeneration of a previously existing benign tumor....


Non-oncologic disorders referred to as "malignant":
  • Malignant hypertension
    Malignant hypertension

    Malignant hypertension is a complication of hypertension characterized by very elevated blood pressure, and organ damage in the eyes, brain, lung and/or kidneys....
  • Malignant hyperthermia
    Malignant hyperthermia

    Malignant hyperthermia is a rare life-threatening condition that is triggered by exposure to certain drugs used for general anesthesia , nearly all gas anesthetics, and the neuromuscular blocking agent succinylcholine....
  • Malignant otitis externa
    Otitis externa

    Otitis externa is an inflammation of the outer ear and ear canal. Along with otitis media, external otitis is one of the two human conditions commonly called "earache"....
  • Malignant tertian malaria
    Malaria

    Malaria is a Vector -borne infectious disease caused by protozoan parasites. It is widespread in Tropics and subtropical regions, including parts of the Americas, Asia, and Africa....
     (Malaria caused specifically by Plasmodium falciparum
    Plasmodium falciparum

    Plasmodium falciparum is a protozoan parasite, one of the species of Plasmodium that cause malaria in humans. It is transmitted by the female...
    )
  • Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
    Neuroleptic malignant syndrome

    Neuroleptic malignant syndrome is a life-threatening neurological disorder most often caused by an adverse reaction to antipsychotic. It generally presents with muscle rigidity, fever, autonomic instability and cognitive changes such as delirium, and is associated with elevated creatine phosphokinase ....