Info
Carcinoma
A type of cancer that starts in the epithelial cells - the cells that cover the surface of the skin or of the internal organs. It is one of the most common types of cancer.
What it means
A type of cancer that starts in the epithelial cells, that is, the cells that line the skin or the surface of certain organs. It is one of the most common classes of cancer and includes several subtypes, depending on the organ of origin.
In short
A type of cancer that starts in the epithelial cells - the cells that cover the surface of the skin or of the internal organs. It is one of the most common types of cancer.
Where you will see it
Mentioned in the histopathology report or in the oncological diagnosis. It may be followed by the location: breast carcinoma, lung carcinoma.
What it does not tell you on its own
The term does not tell you where the tumor is, how advanced it is or what treatment is needed. These depend on the exact type, the stage and other individual factors.
Questions for your doctor
- What type of carcinoma do I have?
- Where does it come from - which organ?
- How advanced is it?
- What treatment is recommended for my type?
Related terms
The terms below often appear alongside this one. Each definition is right here, so you do not have to look elsewhere.
- Adenocarcinoma
- A subtype of carcinoma that arises in glandular cells, that is, cells that produce or secrete certain substances. It can appear in organs such as the lung, colon, pancreas or prostate.
- Carcinoma in situ
- An early-stage cancer in which the abnormal cells have not yet invaded the surrounding tissues. It is considered the most treatable stage.
- Histopathology
- The examination under the microscope of tissue taken by biopsy or surgery. The histopathology report describes the type of cells, the tumor grade and other details that help establish the diagnosis and treatment.
Other terms in “Basics”
Glossary definitions are written for patients by the OncoDots team and go through internal medical review. They explain terms; they do not establish a diagnosis and do not recommend a treatment.