precancer
Abnormal but benign
Precancer refers to abnormal cells or tissue that show changes which may develop into cancer but haven't yet become malignant: The biopsy revealed precancer in the cervical cells.
The term appears in medical contexts to describe conditions warranting monitoring or preventive treatment.
Also called a precancerous condition or lesion.
Abnormal tissue formation
- metaplasiaTissue type transformation
- hyperplasiaExcessive cell multiplication
- atypiaCellular deviation from normal
- neoplasiaAbnormal tissue proliferation
mutation · adenoma · polyp · epithelial · histology · cytology · keratosis · immortalization
Tissue sample for diagnosis
- pathologyStudy of disease processes
- lesionArea of pathological change
- screeningEvaluative selection process
- mammogramBreast tissue X-ray
colonoscopy · endoscopy · ultrasound · MRI · BRCA · colposcopy · dermoscopy · imaging
Evaluative selection process
- sunscreenUV-blocking skin cream
- vaccinationAdministered immunity booster
- prophylacticMeasure preventing disease or harm
- chemopreventionDrugs preventing cancer development
tamoxifen · aspirin · lifestyle · diet · antioxidants · fiber · exercise · checkup
Cancer-promoting agent
- mutationPermanent DNA alteration
- smokingInhaling burning tobacco
- HPVCommon sexually transmitted virus
- hereditaryPassed through generations
BRCA · asbestos · radiation · alcohol · obesity · inflammation · immunosuppression · toxins
Cutting out of tissue
- ablationRemoval by cutting, melting
- cryotherapyTreatment using extreme cold
- LEEPElectrosurgical cervical tissue removal
- conizationCervical tissue excision procedure
surveillance · chemoprevention · electrocautery · curettage · resection · immunotherapy · interferon · retinoids
Sequential forward movement
- regressionReturn to former state
- transformationThorough change in form
- malignancyCancerous, invasive growth
- invasionForcible entry into territory
early-stage · reversible · indolent · aggressive · low-grade · high-grade · favorable · treatable
dysplasia
Abnormal tissue formation
- metaplasiaTissue type transformation
- hyperplasiaExcessive cell multiplication
- atypiaCellular deviation from normal
neoplasia · mutation · adenoma · polyp · epithelial · histology · cytology · keratosis · immortalization · papillomatosis
biopsy
Tissue sample for diagnosis
- pathologyStudy of disease processes
- lesionArea of pathological change
- screeningEvaluative selection process
mammogram · colonoscopy · endoscopy · ultrasound · MRI · BRCA · colposcopy · dermoscopy · imaging · histopathology
screening
Evaluative selection process
- sunscreenUV-blocking skin cream
- vaccinationAdministered immunity booster
- prophylacticMeasure preventing disease or harm
chemoprevention · tamoxifen · aspirin · lifestyle · diet · antioxidants · fiber · exercise · checkup · colonoscopy
carcinogen
Cancer-promoting agent
hereditary · BRCA · asbestos · radiation · alcohol · obesity · inflammation · immunosuppression · toxins · radon
excision
Cutting out of tissue
- ablationRemoval by cutting, melting
- cryotherapyTreatment using extreme cold
- LEEPElectrosurgical cervical tissue removal
conization · surveillance · chemoprevention · electrocautery · curettage · resection · immunotherapy · interferon · retinoids · monitoring
progression
Sequential forward movement
- regressionReturn to former state
- transformationThorough change in form
- malignancyCancerous, invasive growth
invasion · early-stage · reversible · indolent · aggressive · low-grade · high-grade · favorable · treatable · preventable
- Skin Cancermelanoma, BCC, moles, lesion, nevus
- gynecologyPap smear, cervix, pelvic exam, colposcopy, ovary
- cytologycytology, Pap test, cell division, cytoplasm, chromosome
- head and neck cancer
- HPVHPV, HPV test, HPV screening, HPV vaccine, genital warts
precancermetastatic cancer
Malignancy spread from origin
malignancy · carcinoma · advanced cancer · metastasis · terminal cancer
- precancerous lesionsAbnormal tissue that may become malignant
- precancerous cellsAbnormal tissue risking malignancy