Neoplasm

What it is

A neoplasm is an abnormal growth of cells that grow more than they should and beyond normal control — the general medical term for a tumor. A glioma is a neoplasm arising from glial cells, and the word may appear in pathology reports.

Understanding Neoplasm

"Neoplasm" literally means "new growth." It refers to a mass or proliferation of cells that have escaped the normal controls on growth. Neoplasms can be benign (growing locally without invading or spreading) or malignant (cancerous, with the ability to invade surrounding tissue). In pathology reports about gliomas, terms like "neoplasm" or "neoplastic cells" are used to describe the tumor cells. Gliomas span a range from lower-grade to highly malignant neoplasms. Understanding the term helps patients make sense of medical and pathology language, where "neoplasm" is simply the formal word for the tumor. The behavior of any particular neoplasm depends on its specific type and features. Understanding "neoplasm" clarifies a common medical term patients may encounter for their tumor.

Why it matters

Understanding "neoplasm" helps patients and families interpret medical and pathology reports, where it is simply the formal term for a tumor — including a glioma.