Carcinosarcoma
Encyclopedia
Carcinosarcoma is a malignant tumor that is a mixture of carcinoma
(cancer
of epithelial tissue, which is skin
and tissue that lines or covers the internal organs) and sarcoma
(cancer of connective tissue
, such as bone
, cartilage
, and fat).
Carcinoma
Carcinoma is the medical term for the most common type of cancer occurring in humans. Put simply, a carcinoma is a cancer that begins in a tissue that lines the inner or outer surfaces of the body, and that generally arises from cells originating in the endodermal or ectodermal germ layer during...
(cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
of epithelial tissue, which is skin
Skin
-Dermis:The dermis is the layer of skin beneath the epidermis that consists of connective tissue and cushions the body from stress and strain. The dermis is tightly connected to the epidermis by a basement membrane. It also harbors many Mechanoreceptors that provide the sense of touch and heat...
and tissue that lines or covers the internal organs) and sarcoma
Sarcoma
A sarcoma is a cancer that arises from transformed cells in one of a number of tissues that develop from embryonic mesoderm. Thus, sarcomas include tumors of bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, vascular, and hematopoietic tissues...
(cancer of connective tissue
Connective tissue
"Connective tissue" is a fibrous tissue. It is one of the four traditional classes of tissues . Connective Tissue is found throughout the body.In fact the whole framework of the skeleton and the different specialized connective tissues from the crown of the head to the toes determine the form of...
, such as bone
Bone
Bones are rigid organs that constitute part of the endoskeleton of vertebrates. They support, and protect the various organs of the body, produce red and white blood cells and store minerals. Bone tissue is a type of dense connective tissue...
, cartilage
Cartilage
Cartilage is a flexible connective tissue found in many areas in the bodies of humans and other animals, including the joints between bones, the rib cage, the ear, the nose, the elbow, the knee, the ankle, the bronchial tubes and the intervertebral discs...
, and fat).
Types of Carcinosarcoma
- Carcinosarcoma of the lung
- Uterine carcinosarcomaUterine sarcomaA uterine sarcoma is a malignant tumor that arises from the smooth muscle or connective tissue of the uterus.-Histology:Subtypes include leiomyosarcomas, endometrial stromal sarcomas, carcinosarcomas and "other" sarcomas....
External links
- Carcinosarcoma entry in the public domain NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms