What is a Neoplasm?
A neoplasm is an abnormal growth of tissue that results from uncontrolled, excessive cell division. It is commonly referred to as a tumor . Neoplasms can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Types of Neoplasms: Benign Neoplasms : Grow slowly Do not invade surrounding tissues or spread to other parts of the body Usually not life-threatening (unless located in a critical area like the brain) Examples: Lipomas, uterine fibroids, moles Malignant Neoplasms (Cancers) : Can grow rapidly Invade nearby tissues May spread (metastasize) to distant parts of the body Can be life-threatening Examples: Lung cancer, breast cancer, leukemia Essential Thrombocythemia (ET) & Neoplasms Essential thrombocythemia (ET) is a chronic myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) — a type of blood cancer . In ET, the bone marrow overproduces platelets , which increases the risk of blood clots or, paradoxically, bleeding. ET is a type of neoplasm because it involves ...