What term refers to an abnormal growth of tissue that can be cancerous or noncancerous?

Study for the PLTW Medical Detectives Exam. Prepare with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your test and excel!

Multiple Choice

What term refers to an abnormal growth of tissue that can be cancerous or noncancerous?

Explanation:
An abnormal growth of tissue that can be cancerous or noncancerous is a tumor. A tumor describes a lump or mass formed by excess cell growth, and it can be benign (not cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). This distinguishes it from other terms: a lesion is any abnormal area of tissue but isn’t necessarily a growing mass; a spinal tap is a procedure to collect cerebrospinal fluid; a CT scan is an imaging test to visualize internal structures. So the term that best fits a growth that may be cancerous or not is tumor.

An abnormal growth of tissue that can be cancerous or noncancerous is a tumor. A tumor describes a lump or mass formed by excess cell growth, and it can be benign (not cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). This distinguishes it from other terms: a lesion is any abnormal area of tissue but isn’t necessarily a growing mass; a spinal tap is a procedure to collect cerebrospinal fluid; a CT scan is an imaging test to visualize internal structures. So the term that best fits a growth that may be cancerous or not is tumor.

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