What Does Neoplasm Mean on a Report?

This page is for people who see the word neoplasm on a pathology report, a scan report or a patient portal. It explains the word and what to look for next to it.

Neoplasm is another word for tumor. NCI defines it as an abnormal mass of tissue that forms when cells grow and divide more than they should, or do not die when they should.

NCI says a neoplasm may be benign or malignant. Benign means not cancer. Malignant means cancer. So the word neoplasm on its own does not tell you whether you have cancer.

Reports often put a describing word next to neoplasm.

• Benign neoplasm. NCI says benign neoplasms may grow large but do not spread into, or invade, nearby tissues or other parts of the body.
• Malignant neoplasm. NCI says malignant neoplasms can spread into, or invade, nearby tissues. They can also spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems.

If your report says only "neoplasm" with no other word, ask your care team which one it is. Ask also whether the report is final or whether more testing is still needed.

NCI lists neoplasm among the common terms on a cancer pathology report. The same list includes benign, malignant, carcinoma, invasive, in situ, and margin. NCI says the diagnosis section of a pathology report is the pathologist's summary of the findings. It is where the cancer type is named, along with the tumor grade, lymph node status, margin status and stage.

The word is also part of some cancer names. NCI defines a plasma cell neoplasm as a type of tumor that begins in plasma cells. It lists multiple myeloma as one type.

• Neoplasia is NCI's word for abnormal and uncontrolled cell growth.
• Mass is a lump in the body. NCI says a mass may be benign or malignant.
• Lesion is an area of abnormal or damaged tissue. NCI says a lesion may be benign or malignant.

These pages explain wording that often appears with neoplasm: benign versus malignant, solid mass, and how to read a pathology report.

NCI says benign tumors usually do not grow back when removed, whereas cancerous tumors sometimes do. It also says benign tumors can sometimes be quite large, and that some can cause serious symptoms or be life threatening, such as benign tumors in the brain. Your care team can tell you whether yours needs treatment or watching.

The word neoplasm is not an emergency by itself. Ask your care team when the rest of your results will be ready and what comes next. If you have new or worsening symptoms while you wait, call your care team right away. If you think you are having an emergency, call 911.

• Is my neoplasm benign or malignant?
• What type of cells is it made of?
• Does it need treatment, or will it be watched?
• What is the next step, and when will I hear about it?

• National Cancer Institute: Dictionary of Cancer Terms, "neoplasm," "tumor," "neoplasia," "benign," "malignant," "mass," "lesion" and "plasma cell neoplasm"
• National Cancer Institute: Pathology Reports
• National Cancer Institute: What Is Cancer?