This document provides definitions and explanations of key terms related to oncology and radiology. It discusses the differences between benign and malignant tumors, the process of carcinogenesis, methods of tumor examination like CT scans and mammograms, and various treatment approaches for cancer including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and palliative care. Key terms are defined relating to topics like neoplasia, hyperplasia, angiogenesis, metastasis, and nomenclature conventions for describing different tumor types. References are provided at the end.

1. ONCOLOGY AND
RADIOLOGY
English for Pharmacy Profession I (PMD201)
THITIANAN KULSIRIRAT, B.Sc.(Pharm),M.Sc.
(Pharm), Ph.D.
Department of Biopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy
Srinakharinwirot University
Email: thitianan@g.swu.ac.th
Medical terminology

2. 2
https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/oncology
= A branch of medicine that specializes in the
diagnosis and treatment of cancer. It includes
medical oncology (the use of chemotherapy,
hormone therapy, and other drugs to treat
cancer), radiation oncology (the use of radiation
therapy to treat cancer), and surgical oncology
(the use of surgery and other procedures to
treat cancer).
❑ oncology onco- = swelling, bulk, mass (tumor; medical use)
-logy = science or study of
❑ Pathology = the science of studying the nature of a disease.

3. 3
= new, uncontrolled growth of cell (proliferation) that is
not under physiologic control
= Process of new growth
New growth = Neoplasm
Parenchymal = functional tissue and organ
Stromal cell = supportive structure
https://webpath.med.utah.edu/NEOHTML/NEOPL102.html#:~:text=Neoplasia%20is%20new%2C%20uncontrolled%20growth,as%20either%20benign%20or%20malignant.
❑ neoplasia neo- = new
-plasia = formation, growth

4. 4
https://www.britannica.com/science/tumor
tumor = a new growth of tissue characterized by progressive,
uncontrolled proliferation (growth) of cells = neoplasm
TUMOR or TUMOUR
neoplasm neo = new
-plasm = growth, formation
= any abnormal growth of new tissue
https://www.foxnews.com/health/surgeons-remove-massive-cancerous-
tumor-from-mans-jaw

5. 5
https://promocell.com/in-the-lab/human-primary-cells-and-immortal-cell-lines/
❑ hyperplasia hyper- = excessive
-plasia = formation, growth
= an increase in the number of cells of a body
part (excessive formation)
**growth factor stimulate cell proliferation**
❑ physiology: breast glandular epithelium
hyperplasia during puberty
❑ pathology: Benign Prostatic
Hyperplasia (BPH) in response
to androgen

6. 6
❑ hypertrophy hyper- = excessive
-troph/o = development
-y = noun ending
= an increase in the size of cells, resulting in an increase in
the size of the organ *organ has no new cells, just larger cells*
physiology or pathology:
- hypertrophy of muscle is increased workload
- hypertrophy of heart muscle from hypertension
cells capable of division may respond to stress by undergoing both
hyperplasia and hypertrophy

7. 7
/ https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/249141.php...
BENIGN TUMOR VS MALIGNANT TUMOR
Benign tumor VS Malignant tumor
https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-does-malignant-and-benign-mean-514240

8. 8
http://patfyz.lf.upjs.sk/estudmat/Benacka%20-%20Tumors%201%20GE%20%282016%29.pdf)
❑ differentiation = a process in development in which unspecialized cells or
tissues are systemically modified and altered to achieve specific and
characteristic physical forms, physiologic functions, and chemical properties
❑ anaplasia ana- = up, apart, backward, again, anew
-plasia = formation, growth
= a change in the structure and orientation of cells characterized by a loss of
specialization and reversion to a more primitive form = dedifferentiation
❑ Anaplastic = Cells are typically poorly differentiated or undifferentiated

9. https://www.PEDIAA.com 9
BENIGN TUMOR VS MALIGNANT TUMOR (CONT.)
Benign tumor Malignant tumor
➢ Encapsulated (connective tissue) ➢ Not encapsulated
➢ Cells similar in structure to cells from which they
originate (well differentiated)
➢ No resemblance to cell of origin
➢ Well defined borders ➢ No well defined borders
➢ Have a slow growth rate and limited to one area ➢ Have a fast growth rate and growth into adjacent
cells
➢ Possible growth displacement (but not invasion) to
adjacent tissue
➢ Able to metastasize (spread) to distant sites
through the blood or lymph systems
➢ Easy to remove ➢ Difficult to remove
➢ Cells are not cancerous ➢ Cell are cancerous
➢ Can be treated with surgery ➢ Treated with chemotherapy, radiation therapy or
immunotherapy treatments

10. Cancer: Differences between benign and malignant tumor; Part 3
10
BENIGN TUMOR VS MALIGNANT TUMOR (CONT.)
❑ benign = non-cancerous *not life threatening*
❑ malignant = tending to become worse and cause death
cancer = a neoplasm characterized by the uncontrolled growth
(Ca) of anaplastic cells that tend to invade surrounding
tissue and to metastasize to distant body sites

11. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/genetics/family-cancer-syndromes.html
11
❑ Carcinogenesis carcin/o - = cancer
-genesis = production of, formation of
*Non-lethal genetic damage lies at the heart of carcinogenesis*
❑ mutation = a change or transformation in a gene
➢ inherited gene mutation
- passed on to the next generation (5-10% of cancer)
➢ acquired (somatic) mutation

12. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/genetics/family-cancer-syndromes.html
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➢ the growth-promoting proto-oncogenes
➢ the growth-inhibiting tumor suppressor genes
➢ genes that regulate programmed cell death (apoptosis)
➢ genes involved in DNA repair
❑ carcinogen carcin/o = cancer
- gen = that which generate
= a substance or agent that causes the development or increases the
incidence of cancer (e.g. radiation, hormones, chemicals, tobacco, microbes)

13. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323343 13
❑ “oncogenes” are created by mutations in proto-oncogenes
and are characterized by the ability to promote cell growth in
the absence of normal growth-promoting signals

14. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMra1314704
14
❑ metaplasia meta- = beyond, after
-plasia = formation, growth
= reversible replacement of one cell type with another; adaptation to external
environment e.g. metaplasia of esophageal squamous to glandular columnar

15. https://siteman.wustl.edu/glossary/cdr0000764583/
15
❑ dysplasia dys- = difficult, abnormal, bad, painful
-plasia = formation, growth
= altered cell maturation, orientation, and tissue architecture; may progress
to cancer or regress to normal cells

16. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323343 16
❑ carcinoma in situ (CIS) carcin/o = cancer
- oma = tumor
= a premalignant neoplasm that has not invaded the basement membrane
but shows cytologic characteristics of cancer

17. Targeting cancer metastasis with antibody therapeutics
17
❑ invasive = characterized by a tendency to spread, infiltrate, and
intrude

18. https://openwetware.org/wiki/Macrofluidics_for_Tumor_Metastasis
18
❑ metastasis meta- = beyond, after
-stasis = stopping; controlling
= the process by which tumor cells spread to distant parts of the body

19. NOMENCLATURE
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❑ uses a root word to indicate the type of body tissue
❑ uses a suffix to indicate whether the tumor is benign or malignant
➢ benign, the root word is usually followed by the suffix –oma
• benign tumor of adipose tissue = lipoma
Confusion !!
- hepatoma of the liver, melanoma of the skin, seminoma of the testis and
lymphoproliferative tumor-lymphoma are highly malignant

20. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323343 20
❑ Nomenclature (Cont.)
➢ malignant, the root word is usually followed by the suffix carcinoma or sarcoma
➢ tumors that originate from epithelial tissue (which covers the external and internal
body surfaces, the lining of vessels, body cavities, glands, and organs)
➢ suffix –carcinoma e.g. transitional cell carcinoma
➢ gastric adenocarcinoma gastr/o = stomach aden/o = gland
-carcin/o = cancer -oma = tumor
➢ tumors that originate from supportive or connective tissue (bone, fat, muscle and
cartilage)
➢ suffix –sarcoma e.g. liposarcoma
➢ osteosarcoma oste/o = bone sarc/o = connective tissue
-oma = tumor

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❑ Nomenclature (Cont.)
➢ tumor of hematopoietic system
➢ suffix –emia
e.g. leukemia leuk/o = white
➢ exceptions to this rule have distinct name
e.g. Hodgkin’s disease (Hodgkin’s lymphoma),
Wilms’ tumor (a malignant tumor of the kidney occurring predominantly
in childhood)

22. https://content.connect.collins.co.uk/Content/Live/JI/Leckie/AQA-GCSE-Biology-SB-Free-Site-13-Jan-V3/Contents/58750_gcse_biology_ch1_p26_3.html
22
❑ angiogenesis angio- = blood or lymph vessel
-genesis = formation of, production of

23. EXAMINATION
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❑computed (axial) tomography (CT or CAT)
tom/o- = to cut -graphy = process of recording
= a painless, non-invasive diagnostic X-ray procedure using ionizing radiation
that produces a cross-sectional image of the body (2 dimensional view)
❑ magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) = a non-invasive scanning procedure
that provides visualization of fluid, soft tissue, and bony structures by
using electromagnetic energy

24. https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Findings-on-head-CT-scans-a-c-Head-CT-scans-at-the-time-of-admission-are-within-normal_fig1_324236618 24
Findings on head CT scans. a-c Head CT scans at the time of admission are within normal
range considering the patient's age. d-f Head CT scans on the 14th day of hospitalization. Clear
ventricular enlargement and periventricular edematous changes are seen compared with
those at the time of admission

25. https://globalrph.com/medical-terms-introduction/ 25
EXAMINATION
❑ mammogram mamm/o- = breasts
-gram = the image
❑ colonoscopy col/o- = large intestine, colon
-scopy/scopic = to look, observe
❑ biopsy = the removal and examination of tissue, cells,
or fluids from the living body
❑ Unilateral = one side / bilateral = both sides

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Polyp: https://www.etymonline.com/word/polyp#:~:text=polyp%20(n.),ped%2D%20%22foot%22). / biopsy: https://www.etymonline.com/word/biopsy#etymonline_v_11175

27. TREATMENT
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❑ chemotherapy chem/o- = pertaining to a chemical, drug
-therapy = treatment
= the use of cytotoxic drugs and chemicals to achieve a cure, decrease
tumor size, provide relief of pain, or slow metastasis
❑ cytotoxic agent cyt/o = cell tox/o = poisons
-ic = pertaining to
= a substance that kill cells, including cancer cells (may stop cancer
cells from dividing and growing and may cause tumors to shrink in
size) (may be same as chemotherapy)
❑ Adjuvant = a substance, especially a drug, added to a prescription to assist in the action of
main ingredient

28. TREATMENT (CONT.)
❑ immunotherapy immune/o- = immune, protection
(biologic therapy) -therapy = treatment
= agents that are capable of changing the relationship between a tumor and
the host (used to strengthen the individual’s immune responses)
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TREATMENT (CONT.)
❑ radiation therapy = the use of ionizing radiation to interrupt cellular growth
❑ palliative treatment = conjunction with some other course of treatment, may only
provide symptomatic relief
❑ analgesia an- = no, not, without alges/o = sensitivity to pain

30. 30
❑ remission = the partial or complete disappearance of the symptoms of a
chronic or malignant disease
❑ relapse = to exhibit again the symptoms of a disease from which a patient
appears to have recovered

31. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323343
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REFERENCES
❑ Jones BD, Comprehensive medical terminology. 5th ed. Boston: Cengage learning;
2016.
❑ Kumar V, Abbas AK, Fausto N, Aster JC. Robbins and Cotran pathologic basis of
disease. 10th ed. Saunders Elsevier; Philadelphia: 2010.
❑ The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. Every Day Cancer Words and Terms: A to Z.
❑ https://www.britannica.com/science/tumor
❑ https://www.cancer.org
❑ https://globalrph.com/medical-terminology/
❑ https://www.etymonline.com/

32. THANK YOU
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