carcinoma

[kahr-suh-noh-muh] /ˌkɑr səˈnoʊ mə/

noun, plural carcinomas, carcinomata

[kahr-suh-noh-muh-tuh] /ˌkɑr səˈnoʊ mə tə/ (Show IPA). Pathology

a malignant and invasive epithelial tumor that spreads by metastasis and often recurs after excision; cancer.

Origin

1715-25; < Latin: ulcer, tumor < Greek karkínōma; see carcino-, -oma

Related forms

carcinomatoid, adjective

carcinomatous, adjective

Examples from the web for carcinoma

Basal cell carcinoma is a slow-growing form of skin cancer.
Pancreatic cancer, renal-cell carcinoma and melanoma are all thought to be susceptible to this approach.
Our oncologist can tell us that when he biopsies another carcinoma.
Medullary carcinoma of the thyroid is cancer of the thyroid gland that starts in cells that release a hormone called calcitonin.
As a result there was no significant increase observed in the number of thyroid carcinoma.
The hallmark of this disorder is the appearance of a type of skin cancer known as basal cell carcinoma at or around puberty.
Two main types of esophageal cancer exist: squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma.
Canine prostate carcinoma: epidemiological evidence of an increased risk in castrated dogs.
It's a candy store for hypochondriacs, where a sniffle can spell pneumococcal, an itch can mean squamous carcinoma.
Invasive squamous cell carcinoma in epithelial tissue from a human mouth.

British Dictionary definitions for carcinoma

carcinoma

/ˌkɑːsɪˈnəʊmə/

noun (pathol) (pl) -mas, -mata (-mətə)

any malignant tumour derived from epithelial tissue

another name for cancer (sense 1)

Derived Forms

carcinomatoid, carcinomatous, adjective

Word Origin

C18: from Latin, from Greek karkinōma, from karkinoscancer

Word Origin and History for carcinoma

"malignant tumor," 1721, from Latin carcinoma, from Greek karkinoma "a cancer," from karkinos "cancer," literally "crab" (see cancer) + -oma.

carcinoma in Medicine

carcinoma car·ci·no·ma (kär'sə-nō'mə)
n. pl. car·ci·no·mas or car·ci·no·ma·ta (-mə-tə)

Abbr. CA An invasive malignant tumor derived from epithelial tissue that tends to metastasize to other areas of the body.

carcinoma in Science

carcinoma

(kär'sə-nō'mə)
Plural carcinomas or carcinomata (kär'sə-nō'mə-tə)
Any of various cancerous tumors that are derived from epithelial tissue of the skin, blood vessels, or other organs and that tend to metastasize to other parts of the body. See also basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma.

carcinoma in Culture

carcinoma [(kahr-suh-noh-muh)]

A malignant tumor in the tissues that make up the skin, glands, mucous membranes, and lining of organs.

Encyclopedia Article for carcinoma

a cancerous growth of surface (epithelial) tissues of the skin, digestive tract, blood vessels, and various organs. Carcinoma cells tend to invade surrounding healthy tissues and give rise to secondary growths (metastases) distant from the original tumour. In addition to the skin and digestive tract, carcinomas may develop in the reproductive tract, mucous membranes, lungs, and other internal organs and glands, including the liver, pancreas, thyroid, ovaries, and prostate. Cancers of the nervous system, blood, bone, and muscle are not carcinomas.

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