The term neoplasm refers to an abnormal growth of tissue caused by the quick division of cells that have undergone some form of change.
The body is made up of trillions of cells that grow, divide, and die in an orderly fashion. This process is a strongly controlled one that is controlled by the DNA equipment within the cell. When a person is growing up, the cells of the body rapidly divide, but once adulthood is reached, cells generally only divide to replace worn-out, dying cells or to repair injured cells.
Neoplasia describes when these cells multiply in an abnormal manner that is not matched with the surrounding tissue. These rogue cells (neoplastic cells) cannot be controlled in the way that normal cells can because they do not die when they should and they divide more quickly and that could happen with anyone anytime during the life. As this extreme growth persists, a lump or tumor that has no purpose or function in the body is eventually formed. This is referred to as a neoplasm and it may be non-cancerous (benign), pre-cancerous (pre-malignant) or cancerous (malignant). …show more content…
These neoplasms do not become cancerous and are not usually life threatening, but depending on its location, a benign growth may cause symptoms and signs if it presses on vital neighboring structures such as glands or nerves. This may mean treatment is required, which is usually surgery to remove the tumor without damaging any surrounding tissue. Other forms of therapy are medication and