Carcinoma scirrhosum, a type of cancer that affects the breast or stomach, is a challenging word to spell due to its lengthy and complex phonetic construction. The word is pronounced as kɑrˈsɪnəmə skɪˈroʊsəm, with the emphasis on the third syllable. The "ci" combination makes a "sh" sound, while "rh" is silent. The spelling reflects the Latin roots of the word, with carcinoma derived from Greek karkinoma, meaning "cancer." Scirrhosum is the Latin word for "hardened," describing the firmness of the tumor.
Carcinoma scirrhosum, also known as scirrhous carcinoma, is a type of cancer that primarily affects epithelial tissues. It is a specific subtype of carcinoma characterized by the presence of dense, fibrous stroma surrounding the tumor cells. This form of carcinoma is typically slow-growing and highly invasive, often spreading to surrounding tissues and distant organs.
The term "scirrhous" refers to the hardness and induration of the tumor, caused by the excessive production of collagen fibers in the stroma. Carcinoma scirrhosum commonly occurs in various organs, including the breast, stomach, colon, and lungs, and is often associated with poor clinical outcomes.
Histologically, carcinoma scirrhosum exhibits irregular and distorted glandular structures formed by malignant cells, encased by thick fibrous tissue. This dense fibrosis can lead to decreased blood supply, impairing the delivery of nutrients and oxygen to the tumor cells. Consequently, this can contribute to tumor cell death and necrosis.
Due to its aggressive characteristics, carcinoma scirrhosum is often difficult to treat, and conventional therapies such as surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy may have limited efficacy. However, advancements in targeted therapies and immunotherapies hold promise in improving the treatment outcomes for patients affected by carcinoma scirrhosum.
Overall, carcinoma scirrhosum is a form of cancer characterized by its dense fibrous stroma and invasive nature, often associated with poorer prognosis and challenging treatment options.
Scirrhus.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The term "carcinoma scirrhosum" is a Latin term that can be broken down into two parts: "carcinoma" and "scirrhosum".
1. Carcinoma: The word "carcinoma" comes from the Greek word "karkinos", which means "crab". The term "carcinoma" was used in ancient times to describe cancerous tumors due to their crab-like appearance when they extended their projections into surrounding tissues, resembling the limbs of a crab.
2. Scirrhosum: The word "scirrhosum" is the neuter form of the Latin adjective "scirrhosus", which means "hard" or "indurated". This term is used to describe a particular type of cancerous tumor that has become hard due to fibrous tissue formation.