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[[Image:Hidradenoma.jpg|thumb|200px|[[Neoplasm|Neoplastic]] tumor of the cheek skin, here a [[benign neoplasm]] of the [[sweat glands]] called Hidradenoma.]]
A '''tumor''' or '''tumour''' is the name for a '''[[neoplasm]]''' or a solid lesion formed by an abnormal growth of cells (termed ''[[Neoplasm|neoplastic]]'') which looks like a swelling.<ref>{{DorlandsDict|eight/000112106|Tumor}}</ref> ''Tumor'' is not synonymous with [[cancer]]. A tumor can be [[Benign neoplasm|benign]],  [[pre-malignant]] or [[malignant]], whereas cancer is by definition malignant.

==Etymology==
The term tumour/tumor is derived, from the [[Latin]] word for "swelling" ''tumor'' and has come to the English language via the [[Old French]] ''tumour'' (contemporary French: ''tumeur''). In the Commonwealth the spelling "tumour" is commonly used, whereas in the U.S. it is usually spelled "tumor".

In its medical sense it originally meant an abnormal swelling of the flesh. [[Celsus]] (ca 30 BC–38 AD) described four cardinal signs of acute [[inflammation]] as ''tumor'', ''[[dolor]]'', ''[[calor]]'' and ''[[rubor]]''.

But in contemporary English, tumor is synonymous with '''solid [[neoplasm]]''',<ref>''Tumor'' in [http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001310.htm MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia]</ref> all other forms of swelling being called '''[[Swelling (medical)|swelling]]'''.<ref>''Swelling'' in [http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003103.htm MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia]</ref> This usage is common also in medical literature, where the nouns '''tumefaction''' and '''[[tumescence]]''', derived from the adjective '''tumefied''', are the current medical terms for non-neoplastic swelling. Swelling is most often caused by [[inflammation]] caused by trauma, infection, etc.

==Cause==
A neoplasm is an abnormal proliferation of tissues, usually caused by genetic [[mutation]]s. Most neoplasms cause a tumor, with a few exceptions like [[leukemia]] or [[carcinoma in situ]]. 

The nature of the tumor is determined by a [[Anatomical pathology|pathologist]] after examination of the tumor tissues from a [[biopsy]] or a [[Surgery|surgical excision]] specimen and is then qualified as [[Benign tumor|benign]], pre-malignant or malignant.

==References==
<references />

==External links==
{{wiktionarypar|tumor|tumour}}
*[http://www.skintumor.info skintumor.info Gallery]
{{Tumors}}
{{Inflammation}}

[[Category:Anatomical pathology]]
[[Category:Medical signs]]
[[Category:Oncology]]


{{oncology-stub}}

[[ar:ورم]]
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