Histopathology of the Tumors

Abstract

A mass of tissue that derives from an uncontrolled cell growth is termed neoplasm or tumor. Generally, the terms benign and malignant tumor refer to the clinical and biological behavior of a neoplasm as well as some specific morphological features. Benign and malignant tumor can be differentiated according to some main morphological features: differentiation, modality of growth, rate of growth, and metastasis. The distinctive features of benign neoplasm are the lack of invasion of the surrounding tissues and the absence of metastases, while malignant neoplasms have the capability to invade and destroy surrounding tissue and metastasize to distant sites. The qualitative assessment of the degree of differentiation of malignant tumor cells (grading) and the extent of cancer in the body (staging) are fundamental prognostic factors, which affect the therapeutic approach. Histopathological features of tumor should be integrated with clinical and imaging data for an accurate diagnosis and a proper patient management.