recurrence
Meaning of recurrence: Recurrence describes cancer returning after treatment, either near the original tumor site or in another part of the body.
Definition of recurrence
Recurrence, in the context of cancer, refers to the return of cancer after a period during which it could not be detected, often following treatment that appeared to have eliminated it. A local recurrence appears at or near the site of the original tumor, while a distant recurrence appears in another part of the body, reflecting cancer cells that survived treatment and later grew into a detectable tumor.
Recurrence happens because a small number of cancer cells can sometimes remain undetected after treatment, whether because they resisted the treatment used or were too few in number to be found by imaging or other testing at the time. These cells can later multiply enough to reappear as a detectable tumor, sometimes after a considerable period of apparent remission.
Because recurrence can happen a long time after initial treatment, many cancer treatment plans include a schedule of follow-up visits and testing intended to detect a possible recurrence as early as possible.
Also known as
Used in a sentence
Surveillance imaging identified a recurrence in the liver a considerable time after the patient's initial treatment.
Good to know
A recurrence can appear near the original tumor site or in a distant part of the body, and the distinction matters because it can reflect a different pattern of disease than the original tumor.
Word origin
Where “recurrence” comes from
Formed from Latin recurrere, meaning to run back, from re-, meaning again, and currere, meaning to run.