|  | Cancer | Colon Cancer

Define Adenocarcinoma

Adenocarcinoma is defined as a malignant tumor that grows on the glandular epithelial cells of any internal organ. The most common of all cancer types, adenocarcinoma's name itself references the kinds of damage it can do and where it will develop. Understanding its risks, causes and symptoms can help to define what the disease truly is.

  1. Carcinoma

    • With the plethora of cancer types out there, doctors have found it useful to categorize the types into four main sections, as dictated by the cell type causing the cancer. The four most general cancer types are carcinomas, sarcomas, lymphomas and leukemias. Carcinomas develop from lining, or epithelial cells. Epithelial cells are found on the outer layers of skin and membranes lining several internal organs, such as the womb, bladder, digestive tract, and every tube or duct in the body.

    Adeno

    • Within each of the four main categories, further subdivisions have taken place. In the carcinoma group, the divisions come with the type of epithelial cell that is producing the cancer. The four smaller divisions are squamous, adeno, transitional and basal cells. Adeno cells form the lining of all glands in the body, so they inhabit any organ with glandular tissue. This makes up almost every internal organ, including the digestive organs and kidneys. The breasts can be infected also. So adenocarcinoma refers to any cancer found in the glandular epithelial cells.

    Commonality

    • Carcinoma cancers make up a vast majority of cases: around 85%. Adenocarcinomas most commonly infect breasts, the large bowel, the prostate gland, pancreas, stomach and ovaries. In fact, adenocarcinoma is the leading cause of colon cancer.

    Features

    • Adenocarcinoma is referred to as primary when it originates in a certain organ: e.g. primary adenocarcinoma of the kidney. However, it can spread to other organs to form secondary cancers. The secondary cancer cells will still resemble the epithelial cells of its originator, instead of forming cells more common to its new placement. In addition, the adenocarcinoma cancer cells will work the same way as their epithelial originators, producing secretions.

    Diagnosis & Treatment

    • Luckily, adenocarcinoma is easy for a doctor to spot on an image; it noticeably discolors the organ. Still, often a biopsy is required to confirm the placement and type of cancer, since treatment varies greatly depending on the placement of the adenocarcinoma. Most treatments progress with an attempted removal of the cancer through surgery, followed by sessions of chemotherapy to stop the cancer from growing back.

Colon Cancer - Related Articles