of neoplasms

Table 16.2 lists examples of tumour nomenclature. In general, the names are built up from one part to describe the tissue type, and another to indicate its behavior. All end in ‘oma’ to denote a lump, a suffix almost restricted to neoplasms, though a few other terms are in use, such as hematoma for an accumulation of blood. Most malignant tumours fall into the following broad categories:

• carcinoma

• sarcoma

• lymphoma.

Table 16.2 Types of neoplasms

Type	Benign	Malignant
Epithelial		Carcinoma
Squamous	Papilloma	Squamous carcinoma
Transitional	Papilloma	Transitional cell carcinoma
Basal cell	Papilloma	Basal cell carcinoma
Glandular	Adenoma	Adenocarcinoma
Mesenchymal		Sarcoma
Smooth muscle	Leiomyoma	Leiomyosarcoma
Striated muscle	Rhabdomyoma	Rhabdomyosarcoma
Fat	Lipoma	Liposarcoma
Blood vessels	Angioma	Angiosarcoma
Bone	Osteoma	Osteosarcoma
Cartilage	Chondroma	Chondrosarcoma
Lymphoid tissue		Lymphoma
		Hodgkin’s lymphoma
		Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Plasma cell		Multiple myeloma
White blood cells		Leukaemia
Intracranial and neural
Supporting cells		Glioma
Meninges	Meningioma
Cerebellum		Medulloblastoma
Retina		Retinoblastoma
Sympathetic nerve	Ganglioneuroma	Neuroblastoma
Pigment cells
Skin or eye	Mole or nevus	Malignant melanoma
Gonad
Germ cells	Dermoid cyst	Malignant teratoma (Figure evolve 16.10 )
		Seminoma
Placenta
	Hydatidiform mole	Choriocarcinoma

The majority of tumours arise from epithelium (surface lining cells). Benign ones are called papilloma (Figure evolve 16.11) or adenoma; malignant ones carcinoma, often with a prefix to give the cell type. Carcinoma is Greek for ‘crab’ but is used in a more restricted sense than cancer and applied only to epithelial malignancy, which makes up 75% of cancer.

Squamous epithelium lines the skin, where it is called epidermis, the upper aerodigestive tract (mouth, pharynx, larynx, oesophagus), anus, vagina and cervix. It is present in the bronchi if there is metaplasia. Transitional cell epithelium, (or urothelium) lines the renal pelvis, ureters and bladder.

Glandular (secretory) epithelium lines the gut from stomach to rectum, and forms the related secretory glands (salivary, pancreas, biliary tract and liver), endocrine glands (pituitary, thyroid, parathyroids, adrenals), kidneys, ovarian surface, endometrium and breast (Figure evolve 16.12 ).

Sometimes the tumour name is combined with a description of shape or function. If a cyst is formed it may be cystadenoma or cystadenocarcinoma, both of which are common in the ovary. Mucin-secreting variants would be mucinous cystadenoma.

Sarcoma denotes any tumour of mesenchymal origin (supporting structures). They are much less frequent than carcinoma. Metastasis from sarcomas is generally blood-borne, and few give rise to lymph node secondaries (Figure evolve 16.13 ).

Lymphomas are malignant tumours of lymphoid cells; many are classified as Hodgkin’s lymphoma, leaving the remainder as non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Some are closely related to leukaemias (tumours of white blood cells).

There are many tumours that do not easily fit the guidelines mentioned such as testicular teratomas: some are in Table 16.2 and others are referred to elsewhere in this book under the relevant organ Refer to Figure evolve 16.10 (Teratoma) (Figure evolve 16.14 ).