Carcinoma is a malignancy that develops from epithelial cells. Specifically, a carcinoma is a cancer that begins in a tissue that lines the inner or outer surfaces of the body, and that arises from cells originating in the endodermal, mesodermal or ectodermal germ layer during embryogenesis.Carcinomas occur when the DNA of a cell is damaged or altered and the cell begins to grow uncontrollably and become malignant. It is from the Greek: καρκίνωμα, romanized: karkinoma, lit. sore, ulcer, cancer (itself derived from karkinos meaning crab). Classification
As of 2004, no simple and comprehensive classification system has been devised and accepted within the scientific community. Traditionally, however, malignancies have generally been classified into various types using a combination of criteria, including:The cell type from which they start; specifically:

Epithelial cells ⇨ carcinoma
Non-hematopoietic mesenchymal cells ⇨ sarcoma
Hematopoietic cells
Bone marrow-derived cells that normally mature in the bloodstream ⇨ leukemia
Bone marrow-derived cells that normally mature in the lymphatic system ⇨ lymphoma
Germ cells ⇨ germinomaOther criteria that play a role include:

The degree to which the malignant cells resemble their normal, untransformed counterparts
The appearance of the local tissue and stromal architecture
The anatomical location from which tumors arise
Genetic, epigenetic, and molecular features

Histological types
Adenocarcinoma
(adeno = gland) Refers to a carcinoma featuring microscopic glandular-related tissue cytology, tissue architecture, and/or gland-related molecular products, e.g., mucin. Squamous cell carcinoma
Refers to a carcinoma with observable features and characteristics indicative of squamous differentiation (intercellular bridges, keratinization, squamous pearls).
In that study, patients with spinal cord ganglioglioma had a 3.5-fold higher relative risk of tumor recurrence compared to patients with supratentorial ganglioglioma. It has been recognized that postoperative results correlate closely with preoperative neurological status as well as the ability to achieve complete resection. With the exception of WHO grade III anaplastic ganglioglioma, radiation therapy is generally regarded to have no role in the treatment of ganglioglioma. In fact, radiation therapy may induce malignant transformation of a recurrent ganglioglioma several years later. Adjuvant chemotherapy is also typically reserved for anaplastic ganglioglioma, but has been used anecdotally in partially resected low grade spinal cord gangliogliomas which show evidence of disease progression. See also
Lhermitte-Duclos disease

References


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