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Hepatomegaly
Hepatomegaly
Cancer
The general term used to refer to a malignant
TUMOUR, irrespective of the tissue of origin.
Malignancy indicates that (i) the tumour is
capable of progressive growth, unrestrained by
the capsule of the parent organ, and/or (ii) that it is
capable of distant spread via lymphatics or the
bloodstream, resulting in development of
secondary deposits of tumour known as
metastases. Microscopically, cancer cells appear
different from the equivalent normal cells in the
affected tissue. In particular they may show a
lesser degree of differentiation (i.e. they are
more primitive), features indicative of a faster
proliferative rate and disorganised alignment in
relationship to other cells or blood vessels. The
diagnosis of cancer usually depends upon the
observation of these microscopic features in
biopsies, i.e. tissue removed surgically for such
examination.