- Desmoplasia
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-plasia Anaplasia – dedifferentiation Hyperplasia – physiological proliferation Increase in number of cells Neoplasia – abnormal proliferation Dysplasia – maturation abnormality Metaplasia – cell type conversion Prosoplasia – cell type develops new function Desmoplasia – connective tissue growth In medicine, desmoplasia is the growth of fibrous or connective tissue.[1] It is also called desmoplastic reaction to emphasize that it is secondary to an insult. Desmoplasia may occur around a neoplasm, causing dense fibrosis around the tumor [1], or scar tissue (adhesions) within the abdomen after abdominal surgery.[1]
Desmoplasia is usually only associated with malignant neoplasms, which can evoke a fibrosis response by invading healthy tissue. Infiltrating metastatic ductal carcinomas of the breast often have a scirrhous, stellate appearance caused by desmoplastic formations.
Terminology
Desmoplasia originates from the Greek desmos (meaning fetter or bond) and plasia (meaning to form). It is usually used in the description of desmoplastic small round cell tumors.
Neoplasia is the medical term used for both benign and malignant tumors, and is used as a blanket term that refers to abnormal, excessive, uncoordinated, and autonomous cellular/tissue growth.
References
- ^ a b c MedicineNet.com - Definition of Desmoplasia Last Editorial Review: 16 November 1998
Categories:- Types of neoplasia
- Oncology stubs
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