Medical Encyclopedia: Malignancy (Print Version)

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Medical Encyclopedia: Malignancy

URL of this page: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002253.htm

Definition

The term malignancy refers to cancerous cells that usually have the ability to spread, invade, and destroy tissue. Malignant cells tend to have fast, uncontrolled growth. Malignant cells that are resistant to treatment may return after being removed or destroyed.

Update Date: 4/27/2007

Updated by: Rita Nanda, M.D., Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology/Oncology, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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