Dictionary:

adenocarcinoma

  (ăd'n-ō-kär'sə-nō'mə)

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A malignant tumor originating in glandular tissue.

Definition

Cancer that begins in the epithelial cells, which line certain internal organs and have glandular (secretory) properties. Some types of adenocarcinomas include cancers of the breast, thyroid, colon, stomach, pancreas, and prostate, as well as certain types of lung cancer.

—Kate Kretschmann

Any one of a large group of malignant epithelial cell tumors of the glands. Specific tumors are diagnosed and named by the cell type of the tissue affected.

Carcinoma derived from glandular tissue or in which the tumor cells form recognizable glandular structures. Some are listed under the tissues or organs they invade.

• a. of the ileum — a higher than usual prevalence is described in sheep and cattle in some very localized geographical areas, and a relationship to a high intake of bracken hypothesized. The lesions may be symptomless or cause intestinal obstruction. See also pteridium.
• nasal a. — see enzootic nasal adenocarcinoma.
• renal a. — causes little clinical abnormality in large animals but may be detectable as kidney enlargement during physical examination.
• vaginal a. — occurs in white-faced sheep in high sun radiant areas due to short tail dock length or Mule's operation.

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