Cribriform Carcinoma is a medical term used to describe a type of cancer that affects the cells lining the glandular structures in the body. The spelling of this word is as follows - /kraɪ.brɪ.fɔrm kɑr.siˈnoʊ.mə/ - with the first syllable pronounced as "krye" and the second syllable as "bris". The word "carcinoma" refers to a type of cancer that affects the cells lining the body's internal organs or tissues. The term "cribriform" means "having holes" or "perforated," referring to the appearance of the cells under a microscope.
Cribriform carcinoma is a type of malignant tumor characterized by its growth pattern and histological appearance. It is mostly found in the breast and prostate gland, although rare cases have been reported in other organs.
The name "cribriform" is derived from the Latin word "cribrum," meaning sieve, which describes the tumor's distinct pattern resembling a sieve-like structure. This pattern is formed by multiple small, round or oval spaces separated by thin, delicate strands of tumor cells.
Histologically, cribriform carcinoma is characterized by the presence of these cribriform structures, which result from the invasion and infiltration of tumor cells into the surrounding tissue. The tumor cells that form these structures exhibit varying degrees of differentiation and can display a range of cytological features, such as enlarged nuclei and prominent nucleoli.
Cribriform carcinoma is considered a high-grade malignancy as it tends to have aggressive behavior, including a potential for local invasion, lymph node metastasis, and recurrence. It is often associated with an increased risk of disease progression and poorer prognosis compared to other subtypes of cancer.
The diagnosis of cribriform carcinoma is typically confirmed through a combination of clinical examination, imaging techniques such as mammography or biopsy, and histopathological analysis. Treatment options may involve surgical resection to remove the tumor, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy depending on the stage and spread of the disease.
In summary, cribriform carcinoma is a malignant tumor characterized by its distinctive sieve-like pattern of small spaces separated by thin strands of tumor cells. It primarily affects the breast and prostate gland and is associated with aggressive behavior and poorer prognosis.
The word "cribriform" is derived from the Latin word "cribrum", meaning sieve or strainer, and the word "carcinoma" is derived from the Greek word "karkinos", meaning crab or cancer.
In medical terminology, "cribriform" describes a pattern of small holes or spaces resembling a sieve. It is used to describe certain types of cancer, including cribriform carcinoma, where the cancer cells form a pattern characterized by these sieve-like spaces.