Info
Malignant tumor
Basics
What it means
A growth made up of cancer cells that can invade the surrounding structures and spread to other parts of the body. This is the medical meaning of a confirmed cancer.
Related terms
The terms below often appear alongside this one. Each definition is right here, so you do not have to look elsewhere.
- Cancer
- A general name for a large group of diseases in which some cells in the body start to multiply out of control. These cells can invade the surrounding tissues and, sometimes, spread to other organs. Cancer is not a single disease but includes many different types.
- 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.
- Benign tumor
- A growth that does not invade the surrounding tissues and does not produce metastases. Although it may sometimes need treatment or monitoring, a benign tumor is not considered cancer.
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.