Adenocarcinoma - what is it? Highly differentiated adenocarcinoma

The term "cancer" in medicine refers to malignant neoplasms arising in the human body. To date, many of their species are known, which are distinguished depending on localization, the type of tumor and tissue from which the growth of cancer cells begins .

At the same time, no matter what the type of malignant tumor, the cells that make up her body are mismatched weakly, because of what they easily detach and spread with blood flow, settling on different organs and germinating in them. This phenomenon is called metastases.

The tumor, arising from the modified glandular cells of the epithelium, which in medicine is defined as adenocarcinoma, is not an exception. What this is, what kinds of this pathology exist, and how they manifest themselves, we will discuss later in the article.

Carcinomas are the most common cancers

Researchers found that 85% of all cases of cancer are carcinomas. As you can see, this is a very common form of tumors. Carcinomas are formed from epithelial cells that form the upper layer of the skin and lining the inner surface of the gastrointestinal tract, the bladder, the uterus and all the ducts that exist in almost every human organ.

Carcinomas differ depending on the type of epithelial cells where they began to grow. There are only four:

• Squamous cells that form the inner membrane of the oral cavity, esophagus or respiratory tract;
• Transitional cells lining the bladder and part of the ureter;
• Basal cells that make up the skin of a person;
• Glandular cells that are resident in all glands of our body, as well as the stomach, kidneys and ovaries.

Of the latter, adenocarcinoma is formed, the prognosis and symptoms of which we will consider below. By the way, it can occur in any of the human organs.

Than differentiated adenocarcinomas

Because of the large number of forms and types of these cancers, they are differentiated (divided) into different subtypes. For example, depending on the composition of secretory fluid secreted by them, mucoid secretory (mucinous) and serous carcinomas are distinguished. According to the consistency, the differentiated adenocarcinoma can be hard or have cysts (cavities) in its structure.

And in the nose and throat such neoplasms often resemble the usual hypertrophy of the tonsils. True, with this increase in their one-sided, in addition, they are given a bright saturated color. The patient feels a constant sadness in his throat, he is having difficulty swallowing, since he is accompanied by a pain in his ear. And when the tumor dissolves from the patient's mouth, an unpleasant odor appears.

Highly differentiated adenocarcinoma: what is it?

Depending on how much cancer cells differ from normal cells, several degrees of their differentiation are divided. For example, between the highly differentiated cancer cells and their healthy analogs, the difference is insignificant.

The diagnosis of "highly differentiated adenocarcinoma" implies that the polymorphism (change) of cells manifests itself only in the size of the nucleus (it increases in length). And this, by the way, leads to the fact that this pathology does not manifest itself for a long time, and only with a certain growth of the tumor does the first symptoms of the disease appear.

In the main mass, the described illness manifests itself in the same way as other types of malignant neoplasms: weakness, drowsiness, apathy, lack of appetite, weight loss and a decrease in the number of red blood cells in the blood.

Specific symptoms of adenocarcinoma

But since a highly differentiated adenocarcinoma can develop in a variety of organs: the uterus, intestine, stomach, esophagus or mammary glands - then some specific signs of the disease are added to the general symptomatology, depending on which organ is affected.

Thus, a malignant tumor in the uterus will show itself with abundant secretions during menstruation, constant aching pain in the lower back, the occurrence of uterine bleeding, and the formation of endometrial polyps.

And adenocarcinoma of the intestine (in any segment of the intestine) makes itself felt:

• Aching pain in the abdomen;
• Changing the patient's eating habits;
• The appearance in the feces of mucus, dissemination of blood, and sometimes even pus;
• The belly of the patient swells;
• There is a constant alternation of diarrhea and constipation.

It is important to take into account that the listed signs of the disease in highly differentiated cases manifest themselves already in the late stages, which greatly reduces the effectiveness of treatment. This is precisely the cunning of this form of cancer.

Symptoms of highly differentiated lung adenocarcinoma

Adenocarcinoma of the lung is a fairly common diagnosis. It is recorded in 60 cases out of 100 oncological diseases affecting this body. By the way, it is important to note that the most often mentioned pathology is found in men and already in the early stages is actively spread on the bloodstream.

Carcinoma can be represented by a small nodule, and a tumor that affects the entire organ. It is inherent acinar and papillary (papillary) forms. In the first case, the tumor has a mainly glandular structure with large cells, and in the second - a papillary structure, with a multi-nuclear lining. Both forms tend to have an increased mucus.

As in all cases of damage to this type of tumor, this process initially proceeds imperceptibly. Later adenocarcinoma of the lungs Manifests itself:

• Abundant sputum, which in time may contain not only purulent, but also bloody discharge;
• Strained cough and fever, not sensitive to the action of antipyretic agents;
• The patient, as a rule, feels shortage of air and suffers from shortness of breath even in a calm state.

Features of the manifestation of highly differentiated mammary adenocarcinoma

In the mammary gland, the described type of tumor, as in all the cases listed above, initially appears weakly, since the main feature that adenocarcinoma possesses is a moderate or weak mutation of the cells. They, as already mentioned, even retain the producing functions of the tissue that forms them.

Therefore, the structure of such a tumor visually does not change the outline of the mammary gland and practically does not interfere with the maintenance of its functioning. But over time, the new formation begins to manifest itself more distinctly:

• When palpation is felt, an elastic globular seal is determined.
• The nipple becomes hollow, there is a discharge from it.
• Skin covers on the chest change color.
• Appear edema.
• Axillary, subclavian and supraclavicular lymph nodes increase in size.
• At a late stage of the cancer there is a pain symptom.

Prognosis for the development of a highly differentiated adenocarcinoma

When diagnosing cancer, it is common to talk about a five-year survival. This indicator is usually influenced by several factors. These include the size of the tumor, the depth of its penetration into the affected organ, and, of course, the presence of metastases. An important role in the prognosis is played by accompanying pathologies.

You probably already understood, considering the diagnosis of "highly differentiated adenocarcinoma", that this is a disease that requires timely diagnosis. Although he has one undoubted advantage against the background of moderately and lowly differentiated forms - this pathology is well treatable, especially in the early stages.

What distinguishes between high- and moderately differentiated adenocarcinomas

The differentiated moderate adenocarcinoma is similar to the current in the processes that occur in the case of its high differentiation. A characteristic distinction of this type of pathology is clearly marked polymorphism of cells. They are already easy to distinguish from healthy ones, since the number of cells that are in the division stage and have an atypical structure becomes noticeable.

In addition, the differentiated moderate adenocarcinoma is characterized by greater severity of the course and a seriously increasing risk of all possible pathologies and complications. In the body, this type of neoplasm is spread by metastases, which significantly increase the focus of cancer by penetrating the lymphatic and lymph nodes.

It should also be noted that lymphatic metastasis occurs in about one in ten versions of this type of adenocarcinoma. In this case, the age of the patient is important, since in patients younger than 30 years, no metastases are observed.

Low-grade adenocarcinoma: what is it?

Cells underlying tumors with low differentiation are distinguished by a primitive degree of development. They are difficult to associate with a certain tissue, which makes it impossible to establish the structure and origin of the new growth.

This type of tumor, in contrast to the highly differentiated, almost non-metastatic, has the highest malignancy. It increases with a high speed and already in the early stages is carried to other organs. Accordingly, this type of pathology has the most unfavorable prognosis for life, even in the early stages of the disease.