What are malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumors) in lung cancer?
Malignant neoplasms are cancerous tumors that begin when genetic changes cause cells to grow out of control, producing many copies of themselves. These cells build up to form a tumor. In lung cancer, the initial tumor that forms is called the primary tumor.
Show Full Answer
What are malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumors) in lung cancer?
Malignant neoplasms are cancerous tumors that begin when genetic changes cause cells to grow out of control, producing many copies of themselves. These cells build up to form a tumor. In lung cancer, the initial tumor that forms is called the primary tumor.
The most common type is non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), making up about 90% of lung cancer cases. The main types of NSCLC are:
• Adenocarcinoma (40% of cases)
• Squamous cell carcinoma (25-30% of cases)
• Large cell carcinoma (10-15% of cases) These malignant neoplasms can spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body through blood or lymph systems. When lung cancer spreads, the new tumors are still considered lung cancer cells, even if they're found in other organs. For example, lung cancer cells that spread to the brain are still treated as lung cancer, not brain cancer.
Early detection can be challenging since symptoms often don't appear until after the cancer has spread. About 40-50% of lung cancers are already at an advanced stage when diagnosed.
October 17, 2025
Join
Your Privacy Choices
