Okuzeka
Medicine vocabulary · Diseases by System

Tumor

Meaning in medicine, with examples

/ˈtuːmər/nounCommon term

In medicine, tumor means: An abnormal lump or mass of tissue that forms when cells divide more than they should; it can be benign or malignant.

In Turkish: tümör, kitle

How it is used

Doctors describe a tumor's size, site and spread, and whether it is primary or secondary. With patients they may first use softer words such as 'growth' or 'lump', but they say clearly when it is cancer.

Example sentences

  1. The scan shows a 3 cm tumor in the left kidney.

  2. The tumour was removed completely, and the margins were clear.

Common collocations

  • brain tumor
  • primary tumor
  • remove a tumor
  • tumor markers
  • benign tumor
  • benignNot cancer and not spreading to other parts of the body; also used for any condition that is not dangerous.
  • malignantCancerous, and able to grow into nearby tissue and spread to other parts of the body; also used for conditions that are very dangerous.
  • biopsyThe removal of a small piece of tissue from the body so that it can be examined under a microscope, often to check for cancer.
  • CT scanA scan that uses X-rays taken from many angles and a computer to build detailed cross-section pictures of the body. CT stands for computed tomography.

More terms: Diseases by System

Practise with graded reading

Reading at the right level is the fastest way to make new words stick. Pick free English books by level:

This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.