A solid tumor is an abnormal mass of tissue that can be either malignant or benign. Solid tumors develop in the organs of the body. They are distinguished from liquid tumors, which develop in the blood; leukemia is an example of a liquid tumor. The cancer caused by a malignant solid tumor is named after the part of the body in which it originates, meaning that cancer that begins in breast tissue but spreads to the lungs is still classified as breast cancer.
Types of Solid Tumors
Malignant solid tumors are divided into three types:
Carcinoma
A carcinoma is the most common type of malignant solid tumor, accounting for the vast majority of malignancies. Also called an epithelial tumor, it develops in the inner or outer lining, called the epithelium, of the affected organ. Carcinomas commonly occur in the:
- Lungs
- Breast
- Prostate
- Ovaries
- Pancreas
- Bowels
- Anus
Sarcoma
A sarcoma develops in the body's bones, cartilage or connective tissue. Connective tissue connects, supports and surrounds organs and structures in the body, and includes muscles, tendons, fats and nerves. Bone and cartilage tumors are referred to as osteosarcomas.
Lymphoma
Lymphoma is a cancer that originates in the lymphoid organs, which include the lymph nodes, spleen and thymus. These organs produce and store cells that help fight infection. Because these cells are found in almost all of the body's tissue, a lymphoma can develop in any number of organs.
Treatment of Solid Tumors
Surgery, radiation and chemotherapy are the three standard treatments for a malignant solid tumor. If a tumor is localized and operable, surgery, in which the tumor and a margin of surrounding tissue are removed, is the most effective treatment. Radiation is often used to shrink a tumor prior to removing it surgically, and to prevent the tumor from regrowing. Chemotherapy, in which drugs are administered throughout the body to kill cancer cells, is often used in conjunction with surgery or radiation.