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Neoplasm

From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A removed section of a colon with colon cancer. In the middle, the dark-red part is a tumor, as shown by the uncontrollable growth of cells.
Tasmanian devil with a tumour

A neoplasm is tissue that is growing where it should not be. If they become a mass, they become a tumour. Tumours are either malignant (harmful) or benign (safe). Cancer, for example is malignant and sometimes spreads to other places on the body. Some tumours have a cause that makes them grow. For some tumours no cause is known.[1][2][3] A tumour usually forms as a lump or mass.[4]

Tumours can occur in humans and animals. In humans, tumors can occur because the genetic code of cells is modified too much, causing affected cells to divide and expand uncontrollably.[5] The Tasmanian Devils in Tasmania, Australia are in danger of becoming extinct because of a malignant tumour that grows on their face.[6]

References

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  1. "Type-2 pericytes participate in normal and tumoral angiogenesis". American Journal of Physiology. Cell Physiology. 307 (1): C25-38. Jul 2014. doi:10.1152/ajpcell.00084.2014. PMC 4080181. PMID 24788248. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |authors= ignored (help)
  2. Cooper GM (1992). Elements of human cancer. Boston: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. p. 16. ISBN 978-0-86720-191-8.
  3. Taylor, Elizabeth J. (2000). Dorland's Illustrated medical dictionary (29th ed.). Philadelphia: Saunders. p. 1184. ISBN 0721662544.
  4. Stedman's medical dictionary (28th ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 2006. p. Neoplasm. ISBN 0781733901.
  5. Tammela, Tuomas; Sage, Julien (2020). "Investigating Tumor Heterogeneity in Mouse Models". Annual Review of Cancer Biology. 4 (1): 99–119. doi:10.1146/annurev-cancerbio-030419-033413. PMC 8218894. PMID 34164589.
  6. Department of Primary Industry and Water.[permanent dead link] Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumour Disease