Nomenclature

Cancers are classified by the type of cell that resembles the tumor and, therefore, the tissue presumed to be the origin of the tumor. The following general categories are usually accepted:

-             Carcinoma: malignant tumors derived from epithelial cells. This group represent the most common cancers, including the common cancer forms of breast, prostate, lung and colon cancer.

-             Lymphoma and Leukemia: malignant tumors derived from blood and bone marrow cells

-             Sarcoma: malignant tumors derived from mesenchymal cells

-             Glioma: tumors derived from glia, the most common type of brain cell

-             Choriocarcinoma: malignant tumors derived from the placenta

Malignant tumors are usually named using the Latin or Greek root of the organ as a prefix and the above named category name as the suffix. For instance, a malignant tumor of liver cells is called hepatocarcinoma. For common cancers, the English organ name is used. For instance, the most common type of breast cancer is called ductal carcinoma of the breast or mammary ductal carcinoma. Here, the adjective ductal refers to the appearance of the cancer under the microscope, resembling normal mammary ducts.

Benign tumors are named using -oma as a suffix with the organ name as the root.