carcinosis
Meaning of carcinosis: Carcinosis is an older term for widespread dissemination of carcinoma through the body, now generally used interchangeably with carcinomatosis.
Definition of carcinosis
Carcinosis refers to the widespread dissemination of carcinoma, a type of cancer arising from the cells lining organs and body surfaces, throughout the body or within a particular body cavity. It is generally treated as an alternate term for carcinomatosis rather than a separate condition.
As with carcinomatosis, one recognized pattern is spread across the lining of the abdominal cavity, often originating from cancer of the ovary, stomach, colon, or appendix, producing numerous tumor deposits scattered across the peritoneal surface. Spread to the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord is another recognized pattern.
Because carcinosis reflects extensive spread of disease, its presence typically affects how a cancer is staged and what further evaluation is pursued, and confirming the diagnosis usually involves imaging together with sampling of fluid or tissue from the affected area.
How carcinosis is built
- carcin/o Combining form · Greek cancer, carcinoma
- -osis Suffix · Greek abnormal condition, increase
A medical term is read from its ending backwards: the suffix first, then the prefix, then the root. See all 223 word parts.
Also known as
Used in a sentence
The pathology report described findings consistent with carcinosis involving the abdominal cavity.
Good to know
Carcinosis and carcinomatosis describe the same pattern of widespread carcinoma, though carcinomatosis has become the more commonly used term in current medical writing.
Word origin
Where “carcinosis” comes from
Formed from Greek karkinoma, from karkinos, meaning crab, combined with the suffix -osis, denoting a condition or process.