Question 1

what is malignant neoplasm; is it a special type of cancer; is it a bad cancer?

Accepted Answer

Confusing terms: Neoplasm means a group of abnormally growing cells, but it doesn't necessarily mean cancer.  The two kinds of neoplasms are benign (not cancer) and malignant (cancer).  To finish answering your question i'd need more info, like exactly what kind of cancer, the grade, and how far it has spread to know how aggressive it is.

Question 2

what does malignant neoplasm of liver mean?  very bad news?

Accepted Answer

This means cancer: A malignant neoplasm of the liver means cancer.  What it doesn't tell you is if it originates from the liver, or whether it started in another organ and spread to the liver.  This makes a huge difference in how the liver tumor is treated.  Generally cancer that has spread to other organs is a difficult situation, but there are some examples where we have excellent therapies for these cancers.

Question 3

biopsy of 65yo dad's nasal polyp indicates poorly differentiated neoplasm. further ihc for cd38, cd138, cd45, ck, s100 and synaptophysin is being done. what does this indicate, and what is the likelihood of it being metastatic?

Accepted Answer

Work up: Has the polyp been removed?  If so, are the margins clear?  This tumor could become metastatic but only a full body work will assess this.  If it has been removed and the margins are clear there is a good chance all cancer has been removed

Question 4

why is malignant neoplasm called a cancer?  where did that name come from?

Accepted Answer

Root of words: 'mal" from the latin word malus, meaning bad; "neo" from greek for new; and "plasm" from greek for tissue.  Thus one has "bad new tissue" or "bad new growth" which = "cancer" in layman's term or "malignant neoplasm" in doc speak.

Question 5

malignant neoplasm of stomach - can it be caused by wasabi, tabasco, or other irritating hot sauce?

Accepted Answer

No: Spicy foods do not cause stomach cancer.

Question 6

what does secondary malignant neoplasm of brain and spine, mean?

Accepted Answer

Metastasis : Secondary neoplasm refers to cancerous cells which have occurred at a different site (primary) and have moved (metastasized) to the secondary site (in this case brain and spine). These cells migrate by various means dependent on cancer type including via blood streamed, via lymphatics or by direct spread. The diagnosis of a secondary cancer is made by a specialist / pathologist by examining cells.

Question 7

i have a malignant neoplasm with no symptoms. i have a strange itch on my back. should i be seeing a doctor and what doctor should i see?

Accepted Answer

How do you know?: How do you know that you have a malignant neoplasm? In any case, start with a primary care provider you can make an assessment and the two of you together can decide, if seeing a specialist is warranted.
For good health - Have a diet rich in fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains, milk and milk products, nuts, beans, legumes, lentils and small amounts of lean meats. Avoid saturated fats. Exercise at least 150 minutes/week and increase the intensity of exercise gradually. Do not use tobacco, alcohol, weed or street drugs in any form.  Drink enough water daily so that your urine is mostly colorless.
Practice safe sex.

Question 8

what is malignant neoplasm in rectum?  is that still called colon cancer?

Accepted Answer

Rectal cancer: Most malignant neoplasms of the rectum are adenocarcinoma.  This is very similar to colon cancer.  There are a few different types of rectal cancer such as gist tumors and neuroendocrine tumors, but these are much more rare.  Colon and rectal adenocarcinoma are frequently lumped together because some of their treatment approaches are quite similar, but there are some important differences.

Question 9

what does a radiologist mean by "benign or malignant neoplasm" of the liver? hemangiomas have been ruled out.

Accepted Answer

Benign vs malignant: Benign tumors /neoplasms of the liver are not cancerous; malignant tumors are.  See prior answer regarding differential for benign ones. Malignant tumors include: fibrolamellar carcinoma, hepatoblastoma, cholangiocarcinoma, cystadenocarcinoma, angiosarcoma, undifferentiated sarcomas, epitheliod endothelioma. Metastatic liver tumors originate elsewhere (frequently from stomach, breast, lung, colon).

Question 10

malignant neoplasm of prostate.what is this related to a spiculated 12mm lung nodule that is mildly avid in psma scan?

Accepted Answer

PSMA scan: This technique of scanning detects prostate specific involvement. However, I feel your oncologist or urologist should review the study with the radiologist to determine whether any other imaging,biopsy, appropriate follow-up studies, or consultations with any other specialists would be helpful.

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Doctor answers about:

Poorly differentiated malignant neoplasm

A member asked:

What is malignant neoplasm; is it a special type of cancer; is it a bad cancer?

A member asked:

What does malignant neoplasm of liver mean? very bad news?

A member asked:

Biopsy of 65yo dad's nasal polyp indicates poorly differentiated neoplasm. further ihc for cd38, cd138, cd45, ck, s100 and synaptophysin is being done. what does this indicate, and what is the likelihood of it being metastatic?

A member asked:

Why is malignant neoplasm called a cancer? where did that name come from?

A member asked:

Malignant neoplasm of stomach - can it be caused by wasabi, tabasco, or other irritating hot sauce?

A member asked:

What does secondary malignant neoplasm of brain and spine, mean?

A member asked:

I have a malignant neoplasm with no symptoms. i have a strange itch on my back. should i be seeing a doctor and what doctor should i see?

A member asked:

What is malignant neoplasm in rectum? is that still called colon cancer?

A member asked:

What does a radiologist mean by "benign or malignant neoplasm" of the liver? hemangiomas have been ruled out.

A member asked:

Malignant neoplasm of prostate.what is this related to a spiculated 12mm lung nodule that is mildly avid in psma scan?

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