Which term describes a malignant tumor of epithelial origin?

Which term describes a malignant tumor of epithelial origin?

• A. Adenocarcinoma
• B. Liposarcoma
• C. Carcinoma
• D. Leiomyoma

Answer: (C)

Malignant tumors that arise from epithelial cells are called carcinomas. Epithelial tissue lines surfaces and cavities, so when a cancer develops from those cells, the umbrella term is carcinoma. Adenocarcinoma is a specific kind of carcinoma that originates from glandular epithelium, so it’s still a carcinoma but more specifically glandular. Liposarcoma comes from fat tissue, a mesenchymal (non-epithelial) origin, and leiomyoma is a benign tumor of smooth muscle (its malignant counterpart would be leiomyosarcoma). Therefore, the term that describes a malignant tumor of epithelial origin is carcinoma.

Malignant tumors that arise from epithelial cells are called carcinomas. Epithelial tissue lines surfaces and cavities, so when a cancer develops from those cells, the umbrella term is carcinoma. Adenocarcinoma is a specific kind of carcinoma that originates from glandular epithelium, so it’s still a carcinoma but more specifically glandular. Liposarcoma comes from fat tissue, a mesenchymal (non-epithelial) origin, and leiomyoma is a benign tumor of smooth muscle (its malignant counterpart would be leiomyosarcoma). Therefore, the term that describes a malignant tumor of epithelial origin is carcinoma.