premalignant
Before becoming cancerous
Premalignant describes tissue or cells showing abnormal changes that may develop into cancer but haven't yet become cancerous: The biopsy revealed premalignant cells in the colon lining.
The term appears in medical contexts to identify conditions requiring monitoring or early intervention.
Also called precancerous.
Abnormal tissue formation
- adenomaBenign epithelial tumor
- hyperplasiaExcessive cell multiplication
- neoplasiaAbnormal tissue proliferation
- lesionArea of pathological change
atypia · metaplasia · polyp · keratosis · neoplasm · epithelial · histology · cytology
Cancer-promoting agent
- mutationPermanent DNA alteration
- oncogeneTumor-inducing genetic element
- hereditaryPassed through generations
- geneticRelating to heredity
familial · predisposition · exposure · smoking · alcohol · UV · sunlight · HPV
Breast cancer screening X-ray
- colonoscopyLarge intestine examination
- biopsyTissue sample for diagnosis
- endoscopyInternal organ examination
- dermoscopyMagnified skin surface examination
imaging · surveillance · detection · monitoring · follow-up · excision · removal · cryotherapy
Thorough change in form
- carcinogenesisMalignant transformation process
- clonalGenetically identical copies
- instabilityTendency toward unpredictable change
- biomarkerMeasurable biological health signal
invasion · staging · grade · evolution · continuum · spectrum · transition · advancement
dysplasia
Abnormal tissue formation
- adenomaBenign epithelial tumor
- hyperplasiaExcessive cell multiplication
- neoplasiaAbnormal tissue proliferation
lesion · atypia · metaplasia · polyp · keratosis · neoplasm · epithelial · histology · cytology · biopsy
carcinogen
Cancer-promoting agent
- mutationPermanent DNA alteration
- oncogeneTumor-inducing genetic element
- hereditaryPassed through generations
genetic · familial · predisposition · exposure · smoking · alcohol · UV · sunlight · HPV · inflammation
mammography
Breast cancer screening X-ray
- colonoscopyLarge intestine examination
- biopsyTissue sample for diagnosis
- endoscopyInternal organ examination
dermoscopy · imaging · surveillance · detection · monitoring · follow-up · excision · removal · cryotherapy · ablation
transformation
Thorough change in form
- carcinogenesisMalignant transformation process
- clonalGenetically identical copies
- instabilityTendency toward unpredictable change
biomarker · invasion · staging · grade · evolution · continuum · spectrum · transition · advancement · development
premalignantmalignant
Harmfully invasive, often fatal
cancerous · invasive · metastatic · advanced cancer · late-stage
premalignantbenign
Not harmful or threatening
healthy · normal · noncancerous · unremarkable · nonpathological
benign, malign, malignant, malignity, malignancy, malignance, malignancies, maligner