NEOPLASIA
Definition
Types
Characteristics
 Normal cells
– The division is precisely controlled
– New cells are only formed for growth or
to replace dead ones
 Cancerous cells
– Divide repeatedly out of control even
though they are not needed and
function abnormally
– They can also destroy the correct
functioning of major organs
NEOPLASM - Definition
• An abnormal mass of tissue
• Growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with that of
normal tissues
• Growth persists in the same excessive manner even
after the cessation of the stimuli which evoked the
change
Pathological
Purposeless
Proliferation
Terminology
 Neoplasia - New Growth
 Tumor - non-specific term meaning lump
or swelling. Could be inflammatory or
neoplastic. In practice used synonymously
with neoplasm
 Cancer (Crab like)- Malignancy
 Oncology – study of tumors
Terminology of growth disorders
 Hyperplasia - Increase in number of cells.
Can be physiological. Reverts upon
removal of stimulus
 Metaplasia - an adaptive substitution of
one type of adult tissue to another type
of adult tissue
Terminology
 Dysplasia- Disordered growth
 Carcinoma in situ - Epithelial neoplasm
showing all cellular features of malignancy
but not yet invaded basement membrane
Normal ectocervix Dysplasia cervix
Classification of tumors
Tumors are classified according to their
 Behavior -Benign or Malignant
 Cell of Origin - Epithelial or Mesenchymal
 Primary or Secondary (due to distant
spread of primary tumor)
Benign
vs.
Malignant
Clinical
Benign Malignant
Growth rate Slow Relatively rapid
Local Invasion No Yes
Metastases Never Frequent
Benign Vs Malignant Tumors
Rate of Growth
Gross
Benign Malignant
Border Often well
circumscribed
Often poorly
circumscribed
Capsule Usually
present
Usually absent
Necrosis Rare Common
Benign Vs Malignant Tumors
Growth pattern
Benign Malignant
Wellcircumscribed
Infiltrative
growth
Malignant Tumor- gross
Malignant tumors - gross
Squamous cell Carcinoma
Carcinoma of the Colon
Fungating
growth
Ulcerative
growth
Microscopic
Benign Malignant
Differentiation Well
differentiated
Variable
Nuclear
morphology
Often Normal Usually
hyperchromatic,
irregular outline,
multiple nucleoli and
pleomorphic
Mitotic activity Low High
Benign Vs Malignant Tumors
Anaplasia
 Lack of differentiation
 Differentiation – extent to which
neoplastic cells resemble normal
cells both morphologically and
functionally
 Hallmark of malignant
transformation
 Numerous morphologic changes
Differentiation
Adenocarcinoma Normal & benign lesion
Characteristics of a malignant cell
 Cellular & Nuclear pleomorphism
 High nuclear – cytoplasmic ratio (normal
1:4-6; in cancer 1:1)
 Increased and often atypical mitosis
 Tumor giant cells
 Loss of polarity or organization of cells
 Loss of normal function (functional
dedifferentiation) & Development of new
function (sometimes)
Pleomorphism: variation in size
and shape
Tumor giant cells
Abnormal nuclear morphology:
hyperchromatic (abundant DNA), increased
N:C ratio (normal 1:4)
Loss of polarity
Abnormal Mitosis
Mitoses: increased, bizarre
Tumor Biology
Tumor kinetics
Rate of tumor growth is determined
by 3 main factors
 Doubling time
 Fraction of tumor cells that are in
replicative pool ( Growth fraction)
 Rate at which cells are lost and shed
Group discussion
• NOMENCLATURE OF VARIOUS BENIGN AND
MALIGNANT TUMORS
NOMENCLATURE
• In general, benign tumors are designated by attaching
the suffix -oma to the cell of origin.
• Tumors of mesenchymal cells generally follow this
rule.
• Eg.,Fibroma
– Chondroma
– Osteoma
– Lipoma
– Adenoma
• Malignant tumours arising in mesenchymal
tissue - sarcomas (Greek sar = fleshy).Eg:
fibrosarcoma, liposarcoma...
• Malignant tumours of epithelial origin-
Carcinomas.
• Adenocarcinoma
• Squamous cell carcinoma etc
Classification
Benign
Slow growing
Harmless
Malignant
Rapidly
growing
Aggressive
NOMENCLATURE OF TUMORS
EPITHELIAL MESENCHYMAL
• Benign tumor arising from
glandular structure is called
adenoma or papilloma
E.g.:
Squamous cell Papilloma
Transitional cell papilloma
• Benign connective tissue
tumors have prefix
denoting the cell of origin
E.g.:
Fibroma
Osteoma
Chondroma
Lipoma
Benign Tumors
Epithelial
Carcinoma
• Squamous cell carcinoma
• Adenocarcinoma
• Transitional Cell
Carcinoma
Mesenchymal
Sarcoma
• Fibrosarcoma
• Osteosarcoma
• Rhabdomyosarcoma
• Leiomyosarcoma
NOMENCLATURE OF TUMORS
MALIGNANT TUMORS
Teratoma
Tumors arising from totipotent cells and
representing all 3 germ cell layers-
ectoderm, endoderm & mesoderm. Teratomas
most often occur in gonads.
Dermoid Cyst
Benign ovarian teratoma with preponderant
ectodermal differentiation
Tumors with more than one parenchymal cell
type
• All benign tumors have suffix – omas attached
to their cell of origin
• Benign epithelial tumors are either papillomas
or adenomas
• Malignant epithelial tumors are carcinomas
• Malignant mesenchymal tumors are sarcomas
• Lymphomas & leukemias
NOMENCLATURE- SUMMARY
• Some nonneoplastic lesions with- oma suffix:
- Granuloma
- Atheroma
- Mycetoma
- Tuberculoma
• Some malignant tumors with -oma suffix
named like benign tumors
- Melanoma, Lymphoma, Myeloma
• Hamartoma, Choristoma
EXCEPTIONS TO NOMENCLATURE RULES
HAMARTOMA
Mass of disorganized but mature specialized cells or tissue
native to the particular site
Cartilage
Bronchial epithelium
• Normal tissue in foreign location; Non neoplastic
Eg.pancreatic tissue under small bowel mucosa
CHORISTOMA (Heterotopia)
Activity
• Illustrate the features of Benign and
Malignant cells using H & E diagrams.

1 - Neoplasia Definition Types & Characteristics, Nomenclature (1).pptx