| tumor | 1. <oncology> An abnormal mass of tissue that results from excessive cell division that is uncontrolled and progressive, also called a neoplasm. Tumours perform no useful body function. They may be either benign (not cancerous) or malignant. 2. Swelling, one of the cardinal signs of inflammations, morbid enlargement. Origin: L. Tumere = to swell (12 May 1997) |
|---|---|
| tumor marker | <investigation, oncology> A substance in the body that usually indicates the presence of cancer. These markers are usually specific to certain types of cancer and are usually found in the blood or other tissue samples. Examples are alphafetoprotein (AFP), human chorionic gonadotropin, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). They may be indicators of tumour stage and grade as well as useful for monitoring responses to treatment and predicting recurrence. Many chemical groups are represented including hormones, antigens, amino and nucleic acids, enzymes, polyamines, and specific cell membrane proteins and lipids. (18 Jul 2002) |
| tumor necrosis factor | <cytokine> Originally described as a tumour inhibiting factor in the blood of animals exposed to bacterial lipopolysaccharide or Bacille Calmette-Guerin. Preferentially kills tumour cells in vivo and in vitro, causes necrosis of certain transplanted tumours in mice and inhibits experimental metastases. Human Tumour Necrosis factor alpha is a protein of 157 amino acids and has a wide range of pro inflammatory actions. Usually considered a cytokine. Synonym: cachectin. Acronym: TNF (13 Nov 1997) |
| adenocarcinoma, mucinous | An adenocarcinoma producing mucin in significant amounts. (12 Dec 1998) |
| mucinous | Relating to or containing mucin. Synonym: mucoid. (05 Mar 2000) |
| mucinous carcinoma | <tumour> A variety of adenocarcinoma in which the neoplastic cells secrete conspicuous quantities of mucin, and, as a result, the neoplasms are likely to be glistening, sticky, and gelatinoid in consistency. Synonym: colloid cancer, colloid carcinoma. (05 Mar 2000) |
| mucinous cystic neoplasm of pancreas | <radiology> = macrocystic adenoma of pancreas, cystadenoma / cystadenocarcinoma, M:F = 1:9, 40-60 years of age, malignant or pre-malignant, large mass (mean 12 cm), multilocular cysts, thick septations, tail / body in 85% (unlike adenocarcinoma and microcystic adenoma), hypo-/avascular, Differential diagnosis: panc pseudocyst, ** Cf: microcystic adenoma (12 Dec 1998) |
| cystadenocarcinoma, mucinous | A malignant cystic or semisolid tumour most often occurring in the ovary. Rarely, one is solid. This tumour may develop from a mucinous cystadenoma, or it may be malignant at the onset. The cysts are lined with tall columnar epithelial cells; in others, the epithelium consists of many layers of cells that have lost normal structure entirely. In the more undifferentiated tumours, one may see sheets and nests of tumour cells that have very little resemblance to the parent structure. (hughes, obstetric-gynecologic terminology, 1972, p184) (12 Dec 1998) |
| cystadenoma, mucinous | A multilocular tumour produced by the epithelial cells of the ovary and having mucin-filled cavities. The great majority of these tumours is benign. (12 Dec 1998) |
| neoplasms, cystic, mucinous, and serous | Neoplasms containing cyst-like formations or producing mucin or serum. (12 Dec 1998) |