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The classification of neoplasms is not only used for statistics - thanks to the correct diagnosis of which type of cancer we are dealing with, it is possible to undertake effective treatment. Often when the word "cancer" is used, we mean cancer. However, these terms are not synonymous. There are many different types of cancer. Many of them are harmless. Determining the type of cancer makes it easier to assess the dangers of the disease. How do we divide tumors? What exactly is cancer?

Classification of neoplasmsallows oncologists to determine which type of neoplastic lesion has to be faced, how dangerous the opponent is, and what treatment will effectively cure the patient.

A neoplastic lesion is a deformed tissue made of our own cells. Mutations are the source of the transformation of a part of our body into an attacking disease entity. All cancer cells have the ability to divide unrestricted by the body's control mechanisms.

Since there are many different types of cells in our body that can undergo neoplastic transformation, we see all kinds of cancer. The disease also occurs as a result of various types of mutations. It also determines the diversity of the features of neoplastic lesions.

Classification of tumors by malignancy

The two most important types of cancer are:

  • benign tumors
  • malignant neoplasms

Sometimes we also distinguish locally malignant neoplasms.

Mild forms do not pose a direct threat to life, but may cause pain and hinder functioning. Malignant tumors are a direct threat to life. Sometimes they are commonly referred to as cancers. However, this is not an official name. In medical nomenclature, cancer is a specific type of malignant neoplasm, formed from cells of epithelial tissue.

Classification of benign tumors

Benign neoplasms are otherwise called benign, or Latin nomenclature -neoplasma benigum . Although they are not life-threatening, they can sometimes lead to risky complications.

These changes are usually classified according to the tissue they come from. Among the benign neoplasms we can mention:

  • uterine fibroids
  • skin papillomas
  • cysts
  • adenomas
  • fibroids
  • lipomas
  • neuraki
  • meningiomas
  • angiomas
  • chrzęstniaki
  • Kostniaki

Benign tumors usually grow quite slowly. They do not have the ability to infiltrate tissues and organs. Their most important feature that distinguishes them from malignant lesions is that they do not metastasize.

These features are due to the fact that the cells of a benign tumor are located in a so-called connective tissue capsule, which separates it from the surrounding tissues. This structure inhibits the development and spread of the lesion.

Due to the fact that a benign tumor does not metastasize, its treatment does not require radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Surgery is usually a sufficient procedure to ensure complete recovery.

The presence of a benign neoplasm may be manifested by pain as the lesion puts pressure on a nerve. In addition, mild changes depending on the location in the body can significantly affect its functioning. Malignant tumors can negatively impact he alth through:

  • organ disruption
  • hormone secretion disorder
  • to bleed
  • closing the lumen of the blood vessels

Benign tumors are very common. It is estimated that almost half of women suffer from them. The gender relationship between the frequency of the disease is due to the fact that these changes often affect the breast or uterus. Their cause may be hormonal disorders.

Classification of malignant neoplasms

Malignant neoplasms are also referred to in the medical nomenclature as Latin.neoplasma malignum . They are characterized by rapid growth, low cell differentiation and the ability to metastasize. This form of neoplastic disease is a direct threat to life.

Malignant neoplasms spread by infiltrating, that is, growing between cells of other tissues. They can also enter the blood or lymph and release cells into it. These cancer cells travel through the bloodstream through the body to metastasize.

In the case of malignant neoplasms, the degree of malignancy is determined. The basis for this classification is the extent of changes in the body and the duration of the disease.

Due to the type of tissue the mutated cells come from, the following malignant neoplasms include:

  • crayfish
  • sarcomas
  • immature teratomas
  • lymphiaki
  • gliomas
  • melanomas

Crayfish classification and characteristics

Cancer is the name for all types of malignant neoplastic changes derived fromepithelial tissue of the ectoderm or endoderm. Usually it affects adults, children rarely get this type of cancer. In the case of cancer, once diagnosed, aggressive forms of treatment are usually used.

Usually, the first developmental form of cancer is a tumor that, after some time, begins to infiltrate, that is, grow into he althy tissues. Due to its malignancy, it creates regional and distant metastases. When cancer cells enter the lymph, metastases to the lymph nodes, the blood spreads to the brain, liver, lungs or bones.

Depending on the severity of the crayfish, they are divided into:

  • pre-invasive cancers
  • early invasion crayfish
  • crayfish during the invasion period

Pre-invasive cancer ( carcinoma in situ )these are neoplastic changes in the initial stage of development. Cancer cells do not cross the border of the epithelial basement membrane. This type of cancer does not grow into nearby tissues or metastasize. Surgical removal of the neoplastic lesion usually guarantees complete recovery.

Early invasion cancer ( carcinoma in stadio invasionis incipienti )this stage is distinguished in the case of some neoplasms, e.g. cervical cancer and stomach cancer. This is the stage with the first invasive features, but removal of the neoplastic lesion, with a sufficiently wide area of ​​local surgical intervention, may guarantee no relapse.

Infiltrative cancer ( carcinoma infiltrativum )is a form of neoplastic lesion in which mutated epithelial cells grow into surrounding tissues. Single cancer cells can enter the blood or lymph this way and then metastasize. Treatment requires chemotherapy or radiotherapy, in addition to surgical intervention.

Depending on the degree of maturity of the lesion, crayfish can be divided into:

  • anaplastic crayfish
  • germ cell crayfish

Anaplastic cancersare cancers with many mutations and pathological changes in the appearance of cells. As a result of these lesions, it is impossible to determine the epithelium from which cancer cells originate.

Embryonic carcinomasare lesions composed of cells with a low degree of maturity. They are similar to the cells of embryos and fetuses. Such changes usually appear in the sexual organs.

Crayfish are divided into different types based on the type of epithelium they come from. We distinguish:

  • adenocarcinomas
  • flat crayfish
  • urotelial crayfish

Adenocarcinomasit is a neoplastic lesion originating from the epithelial tissue of the glands. Typical for this neoplasm is the growth of the cancerous tissue, which imitates the structure of the gland that is attacked by it.

Adenocarcinomas most often attack:

  • endocrine glands
  • pancreas
  • liver
  • uterine body
  • ovaries
  • lungs
  • prostate gland
  • salivary glands
  • nipples
  • kidneys

Squamous cell carcinoma ( carcinomata planoepithelialia ) is a malignant neoplasm formed from epithelial cells. This type of cancer usually progresses slowly with no obvious symptoms. Therefore, it is often diagnosed when metastases to other organs have already formed. Squamous cell carcinoma can appear in:

  • oral
  • throat
  • esophagus
  • skin
  • bronchi
  • cervical shield
  • and sometimes on other organs

Urothelial carcinomas ( carcinomata urothelialia )are malignant neoplasms that appear within the urinary tract. Neoplastic lesions of this type take the form of papillomatous protrusions. Urothelial cancer can appear in:

  • bladder
  • ureter
  • renal pelvis
  • renal calyx

Lymphomas ( lymphoma )

Lymphomas are malignant neoplasms that develop in the lymphatic system. This disease affects the lymph nodes. They can appear in patients of all ages, but the disease is more common in young people. In mature organisms, this type of cancer grows more slowly and the prognosis is better. All types of lymphoma may require complex multi-drug chemotherapy.

Lymphomas are divided into non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and Hodgkin's lymphoma. Malignant gypsy is also called Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Sarcomas ( Sarcoma )

Sarcomas are malignant neoplasms that originate in soft tissue cells such as parenchymal, connective, adipose, cartilage and bone cells. They develop in deeply located organs, therefore they usually remain latent for a long time and are detected at a late stage of development.

We can distinguish different sarcomas depending on the location of the neoplastic lesion. For example, liposarcomas and angiosarcomas.

Melanomas ( melanoma malignum )

Melanomas are malignant neoplasms that originate from melanocytes, or pigment cells. Most often, this disease affects the skin, however, this type of changescancerous ones can also appear in the gastrointestinal mucosa or the eyeball.

Depending on the time of detection, melanomas are characterized by different levels of malignancy. Early diagnosis gives a good chance of recovery. Unfortunately, the late stages of the disease show little sensitivity to radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Gliomas ( glioma )

Gliomas are malignant neoplasms of the central nervous system that originate from glial cells. Among gliomas we can distinguish:

  • embryonic gliomas - medulloblastomas - occur mainly in children within the cerebellum; are characterized by rapid growth
  • star glial tumors - the most popular type of glioblastoma, e.g. glioblastoma multiforme
  • malignant glial neoplasms - e.g. oligodendroglioma
  • glial tumors - e.g. ependymoma

Gliomas are also classified according to the four-grade malignancy scale.

Potworniaki ( teratoma )

Teratoma is a cancer that originates from multi-potential germ cells. In tumors resulting from this disease, one can observe a disorderly mixture of various tissues. For example, they may contain hair and placental cells.

This type of neoplastic lesion usually appears in the genital area.

TNM tumor stage classification

TNM classification is a commonly used method of neoplastic staging assessment. It allows you to determine the stage of the disease development and facilitate the selection of the appropriate treatment.

Three parameters are used in the evaluation:

  • T (tumor) -the size of the primary tumor. The bigger it is, the more advanced the disease is
  • N (nodus - means a node) - the state of the lymph nodes near the neoplastic lesion. It is determined whether they are occupied by tumor metastases
  • M (metastases) - the presence or absence of distant metastases is determined

Importance of cancer classification for the patient and the course of therapy

Different types of cancer respond differently to treatments.

Classification of neoplastic lesions into many types helps to find appropriate treatment methods.

Research into specific types of cancer increases the chances of discovering more effective treatments.

About the authorSara Janowska, MA in pharmacyPhD student of interdisciplinary doctoral studies in the field of pharmaceutical and biomedical sciences at the Medical University of Lublin and the Institute of Biotechnology inBiałystok. A graduate of pharmaceutical studies at the Medical University of Lublin with a specialization in herbal medicine. She obtained a master's degree defending a thesis in the field of pharmaceutical botany on the antioxidant properties of extracts obtained from twenty species of mosses. Currently, in his research work, he deals with the synthesis of new anti-cancer substances and the study of their properties on cancer cell lines. For two years she worked as a master of pharmacy in an open pharmacy.

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Category:

Oncology