# carcinoma

/ˌkɑɹsəˈnoʊmə/ (US) · /kˌɑːsɪnˈəʊmɐ/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/carcinoma
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

a type of cancer that starts in the skin or in the tissues that line your organs.

For teachers: a malignant tumour arising from epithelial tissue. It represents the most common form of cancer and spreads via the lymphatic system or bloodstream.

## Examples

- The doctor explained that the carcinoma was caught in its early stages.
- After the biopsy results came back, the patient was diagnosed with a basal cell carcinoma on his shoulder.
- While some forms of carcinoma remain localized and are easily treated with minor surgery, others exhibit aggressive metastatic behavior that requires a combination of chemotherapy and radiation.

## Usage notes

- Uncountable when referring to the disease generally; countable when referring to specific tumors or medical cases.

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