A carcinoma is a malignant tumor that grows out of epithelial cells. Epithelial cells make up the tissue that lines the inner or outer surfaces of the body and organs. So this cancer can be found in most areas of your body.
Carcinoma is by far the most common type of cancer and the term is often used interchangeably for cancer. However, carcinoma is just one form. Cancer can develop from other types of cells too, for instance sarcomas which arises out of muscle, bone, fat and connective tissue cells, as well as leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma from blood cells, and melanoma from melanin producing cells.
Typically, a carcinoma is named based on its type and organ of origination. The various types of carcinomas include:
- adenocarcinoma
- ductal carcinoma
- large cell carcinoma
- renal cell carcinoma
- basal cell carcinoma
- small cell carcinoma
- squamous cell carcinoma
- transitional cell carcinoma
- adenosquamous carcinoma
- anaplastic (undifferentiated) carcinoma
There are numerous variants of undifferentiated carcinomas.
Some examples of organ sites and the common type of carcinoma found in each are:
- lung ~ small cell
- kidney ~ renal cell
- anus ~ squamous cell
- cervix ~ squamous cell
- bladder ~ transitional cell
- breast ~ ductal carcinoma
- uterine ~ adenocarcinoma
- skin ~ basal, squamous cell
- prostate ~ adenocarcinoma
- pancreas ~ adenocarcinoma
- colon, rectal ~ adenocarcinoma
Carcinomas can invade surrounding tissue and metastasize to other sites via the blood and lymph system.
