encapsulated
Meaning of encapsulated: Encapsulated describes an abnormal growth or collection that is contained within a thin surrounding layer of tissue rather than spreading into nearby structures.
Definition of encapsulated
Encapsulated describes something that is confined to a specific, localized area and surrounded by a thin layer of tissue that forms a distinct boundary. The term is applied to tumors, collections of fluid or pus, and certain bacteria, wherever a structure is contained by such a boundary rather than blending into surrounding tissue.
An encapsulated tumor is generally easier to remove completely through surgery than one that infiltrates surrounding tissue without a clear boundary, since the capsule provides a defined edge that helps separate the abnormal tissue from the structures around it. Encapsulation does not by itself indicate whether a growth is cancerous or noncancerous.
Certain bacteria also produce a protective outer capsule, which can make them more difficult for the immune system to recognize and eliminate, a property distinct from the tissue capsule that surrounds an encapsulated tumor or fluid collection.
Used in a sentence
Imaging described the mass as well encapsulated with no evidence of local invasion.
Good to know
Encapsulation describes a growth's physical boundary rather than whether it is cancerous, so an encapsulated mass can be either benign or malignant despite having a well defined edge.
Word origin
Where “encapsulated” comes from
Formed from Latin en-, meaning in, and capsula, meaning small box or case, a diminutive of capsa.