What Are Carcinomas?

Carcinoma is a type of malignancy that begins in specific cells that form the tissue lining certain organs in the body, like the kidneys, liver, and on the skin. Cancerous cells are classified according to the kind of cell they form in because different cells throughout the body perform different functions. Five primary types of cancers can occur in an individual's body, including carcinoma, lymphoma and myeloma, spinal cord and brain cancers, leukemia, and sarcoma. Carcinoma only originates in the epithelial tissues of the body. The most prevalent type of cancer in the population is carcinoma. Different types of carcinoma are grouped by the types of epithelial cells in which they originate. Carcinomas may be diagnosed using a fine-needle aspiration biopsy, subtotal removal of a single node, or a core biopsy. Treatment methods for carcinoma vary and depend on the site of the tumor.

Where Carcinomas Develop

There are numerous locations around an individual's body where this type of cancer can develop. Carcinomas only develop in tissues made up of specific cells referred to as epithelial cells. Epithelial cells are the cells that form an individual's skin tissues on the outside of the body. Epithelial cells also form the lining and inside of all body organs, and these cells also line all of the cavities in the body. Carcinomas often develop in the tissues that line the abdominal cavity. Carcinomas are also commonly known to develop in an individual's sun-exposed skin tissues. The kidneys are organs often implicated when it comes to the development of carcinoma, as it is the most common form of kidney cancer. Carcinomas tend to develop frequently in the tissues of an individual's breast or cervix. Heavy smokers have a prevalence of carcinoma development in the tissues lining their bladder or the delicate tissues that form the inside of their lungs. Carcinomas are a common occurrence in males, particularly in the tissues lining the colon or the tissues that make up the prostate.