From:
sukieferret
Date: 2002-03-12 11:49:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Update, Warning, And Insulinoma Guide
Here is an oldie but goodie that can be found using the search
engine and which will help you:
Dr. Bruce Williams wrote:
>The thread on this is pretty good, and both Sukie and Stephanie
have
>very valid points. The terminology of neoplasms can be
confusing,
>and I'm sure even vets can be confused from time to time.
>
>The proper term for what you are talking about is neoplasm (or
>literally "new growth). For one reason or another, a clone of
cells
>begins to grow uninhibited by normal substances or
mechanisms. The
>word "tumor" may be technically correct, but it is actually non-
>specific - tumor is Latin for a swelling, but it could also be an
>abscess, or anything else that causes swelling - so I try to stay
>away from it.
>
>Now this neoplasm may be benign - without the ability for cells
to
>detach into the bloodstream or lymph, move to another tissue,
and set
>up shop - or malignant (where they can do this.) The process of
>microscopic piece of a tumor moving to another organ is called
>metastasis.
>
>Metastasis is the hallmark of malignancy. The worst tumors
have the
>propensity to go anywhere and start growing (like lymphoma).
>However, we can recognize malignant tumors even before they
>metastasize, often by characteristic features seen under the
>microscope.
>
>Adrenal carcinomas (malignant adrenal tumors) are interesting
>neoplasms. Although they possess the ability to metastasize,
only a
>small number do, and usually only late in the course of
disease. It
>is likely that they do metastasize a lot, but have trouble gaining
a
>foothold in distant tissues, so it takes a long time and many
>attempts if they ever truly metastasize.
>
>Insulinomas are generally not malignant tumors as they only
very
>rarely metastasize. The presence of multiple tumors in the
same
>organ over time is not metastasis. We do not understand the
>mechanism behind the generation of these tumors, and when
we do
>surgery to remove them, we really are only treating the end
point of
>this process, without address the cause. Thus it is really no
>surprise that the rate of recurrence is about 40% within 10
months.
>
>With kindest regards,
>
>Bruce Williams, DVM
Our server is having problems so I will just have to keep trying to
send this. Treat it as an supporting document to Bruce William's
excellent post above taken from FHL digest 348. I especially
liked
his providing the direct translation of "tumor" as "swelling", and
his explanation that not all growths which can metastasize do so
readily.
These definitions are combined ones from medical, veterinary,
and
biology dictionaries, but emphases are mine and i am willing to
be
corrected if I blew it...
Important Note: some more recent dictionaries don't even
include the
term cancer, and I have heard vets who won't use it due to the
widespread confusion out there, and even some vets who won't
use
"tumor' due to too many assuming that any tumor is malignant.
Tumor: ANY abnormal mass resulting from the excessive
multiplication
of cells; a swelling, especially that resulting from the growth of
new tissue; a neoplasm
cancer: Any MALIGNANT TUMOR; carcinoma; a carcinoma or
sarcoma
malignant: pertaining to or denoting progressive growth of
CERTAIN
tumors which if not checked by treatment spread to DISTANT
sites,
terminating in death; a tendency to progress in virulence, cancer
is
the best known example
benign: not malignant, as in CERTAIN TUMORS; not recurrent,
favorable for recovery
neoplasm: a tumor; any new growth, specifically one in which
cell
multiplication is uncontrolled and progressive, neoplasms may
be
benign or malignant
(Subsets from Saunders:
neoplasm, benign: a neoplasm having none of the
characteristics of a
malignant neoplasm (see below), i.e.it grows SLOWLY, expands
WITHOUT
METASTASIS, and USUALLY does not reoccur
neoplasm, malignant: a neoplasm with the characteristics of
anaplasia, invasiveness and metastasis
There are several other subsets of neoplasia in this dictionary.
metastasis: the transfer or disease from one organ or part to
another
NOT DIRECTLY CONNECTED WITH IT
anaplasia: loss of differentiation of cells
Those who have the _Saunder's Comprehensive Veterinary
Dictionary_
will find that this resource often provides details beyond these
bare-bones descriptions, (though certainly there also will be
nuances
in practise that those of us who are not medical professionals
simply
won't understand). It is a marvelous resource; I love it. If I had a
rating for refs around here it would be among the best buys. It's
better than any of my other medical dictionaries, even for sorting
through things too technical for me in the _PDR_ books on
herbs and
on supplements that i have at home. Marvelous book: clearly
written
and very inclusive; more than worth what it cost.
Message 6510 of 11838