Editing Neoplasm (section)

== Etymology ==
The term ''neoplasm'' is a synonym of ''tumor''. ''Neoplasia'' denotes the process of the formation of neoplasms/tumors, and the process is referred to as a ''neoplastic'' process. The word ''neoplastic'' itself comes from Greek {{Transliteration|grc|neo}} 'new' and {{Transliteration|grc|plastic}} 'formed, molded'.{{cn|date=January 2022}}

The term ''tumor'' derives from the [[Latin]] noun {{Lang|la|tumor}} 'a swelling', ultimately from the verb {{Lang|la|tumēre}} 'to swell'. In the British Commonwealth, the spelling ''tumour'' is commonly used, whereas in the U.S. the word is usually spelled ''tumor''.{{cn|date=January 2022}}

In its medical sense, ''tumor'' has traditionally meant an abnormal swelling of the flesh. The Roman medical encyclopedist [[Aulus Cornelius Celsus|Celsus]] ({{circa}} 30 BC–38 AD) described the four cardinal signs of acute [[inflammation]] as {{Lang|la|tumor}}, {{Lang|la|[[Pain|dolor]]}}, {{Lang|la|calor}}, and {{Lang|la|[[rubor]]}} (swelling, pain, increased heat, and redness). (His treatise, ''[[De Medicina]]'', was the first medical book printed in 1478 following the invention of the movable-type printing press.)

In contemporary English, the word ''tumor'' is often used as a synonym for a cystic (liquid-filled) growth or solid neoplasm (cancerous or non-cancerous),<ref>''Tumor'' in [https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001310.htmMedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia]</ref> with other forms of swelling often referred to as [[Swelling (medical)|"swellings"]].<ref>
{{cite encyclopedia
 |title= Swelling
 |url= https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003103.htm
 |encyclopedia= MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia
 |date= October 14, 2012
}}
</ref>

Related terms occur commonly in the medical literature, where the nouns ''tumefaction'' and ''[[tumescence]]'' (derived from the adjective ''tumescent'')<ref>{{Cite OED | tumescence}}</ref> are current medical terms for non-neoplastic swelling. This type of swelling is most often caused by inflammation caused by trauma, infection, and other factors.{{cn|date=May 2023}}

Tumors may be caused by conditions other than an overgrowth of neoplastic cells, however. [[Cyst]]s (such as sebaceous cysts) are also referred to as tumors, even though they have no neoplastic cells. This is standard in medical-billing terminology (especially when billing for a growth whose pathology has yet to be determined).{{cn|date=May 2023}}