Introduction:
Neoplasm is a medical term that refers to a new growth of cells.
Whereas "neo" means new and "plasm" refers to cells, the word
neoplasm refers to abnormal overgrowth of cells rather than
healthy new cell growth. It is often used interchangeably with
words such as tumor and cancer. The main use of the term neoplasm
is in medical statistics that categorize deaths or other events,
in which case neoplasm is typically the category that includes
cancer statistics. A "benign neoplasm" usually refers to a benign
tumor (non-cancerous), whereas a "malignant neoplasm" usually
refers to a cancerous tumor.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
In general, tumors occur when cells divide excessively in the
body. Typically, cell division is strictly controlled. New cells
are created to replace older ones or to perform new functions.
Cells that are damaged or no longer needed die to make room for
healthy replacements.
If the balance of cell division and death is disturbed, a tumor
may form.
Problems with the body's immune system can lead to tumors.
Tobacco causes more deaths from cancer than any other
environmental substance. Other causes include:
• Benzene and other chemicals and toxins
• Drinking too much alcohol
• Environmental toxins, such as certain poisonous mushrooms and
a type of poison that can grow on peanut plants (aflatoxins)
• Excessive sunlight exposure
• Genetic problems
• Obesity
• Radiation
• Viruses
Types of tumors known to be caused by viruses are:
• Cervical cancer (human papillomavirus)
• Hepatocellular carcinoma (hepatitis B virus)
Some tumors are more common in one gender than the other. Some
are more common among children or the elderly. Others are
related to diet, environment, and family history.
Symptoms
Symptoms depend on the type and location of the tumor. For
example, lung tumors may cause coughing, shortness of breath, or
chest pain. Tumors of the colon can cause weight loss, diarrhea,
constipation, iron deficiency anemia, and blood in the stool.
Some tumors may not cause any symptoms. In certain tumors, such
as pancreatic cancer, symptoms often do not start until the
disease has reached an advanced stage. The following symptoms occur with most tumors:
• Chills
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Loss of appetite
• Malaise
• Night sweats
• Weight loss
Signs and tests
Like the symptoms, the signs of tumors vary based on their site
and type. Some tumors are obvious, such as skin cancer. However,
most cancers cannot be seen during an exam because they are deep
inside the body.
When a tumor is found, a biopsy is performed to determine if the
tumor is noncancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant).
Depending on the location of the tumor, the biopsy may be a
simple procedure or a serious operation.
Most patients with tumors have CT or MRI scans to determine the
exact location of the tumor and how far it has spread. More
recently, positron emission tomography (PET) scans have been
used to find certain tumor types
Other tests include:
• Biopsy of the tumor
• Blood tests (to look for chemicals such as tumor markers)
• Bone marrow biopsy (most often for lymphoma or leukemia)
• Chest x-ray
• Complete blood count (CBC) Treatment
Treatment varies based on:
• The type of tumor
• Whether it is noncancerous or cancerous
• Its location
If the tumor is benign (meaning it has no potential to spread)
and is located in a "safe" area where it will not cause symptoms
or affect the function of the organ, sometimes no treatment is
needed.
Sometimes benign tumors may be removed for cosmetic reasons,
however. Benign tumors of the brain may be removed because of
their location or harmful effect on the surrounding normal brain
tissue.
If a tumor is cancerous, possible treatments include:
• Chemotherapy
• Radiation
• Surgery
• A combination of these methods
If the cancer is in one location, the goal of treatment is
usually to remove the tumor with surgery. If the tumor has
spread to local lymph nodes only, sometimes these can also be
removed. If all of the cancer cannot be removed with surgery,
the options for treatment include radiation and chemotherapy, or
both. Some patients need a combination of surgery, radiation,
and chemotherapy.
Lymphoma (cancer of the lymph glands) is rarely treated with
surgery. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are most often used
for treating lymphoma.
Expectations (prognosis)
The outlook varies greatly for different types of tumors. If the
tumor is benign, the outlook is generally very good. However,
there are some instances where a benign tumor can cause
significant problems, such as in the brain.
If the tumor is malignant, the outcome depends on the type and
stage of the tumor at diagnosis. Some cancers can be cured. Some
that are not curable can still be treated, and patients can live
for many years with the cancer. Still other tumors are quickly
life-threatening.
Complications
Complications can occur if a tumor is located in a region of the
body where it affects the function of the normal organ. If the
tumor is malignant, it can also cause complications if it
spreads (metastasizes).
Prevention
You can reduce the risk of cancerous (malignant) tumors by:
• Eating a healthy diet
• Exercising regularly
• Limiting alcohol
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Minimizing exposure to radiation and toxic chemicals
• Not smoking or chewing tobacco
• Reducing sun exposure, especially if you burn easily
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