Q.Define neoplasm. Give one example.

A neoplasm is an abnormal mass of tissue formed by uncontrolled cell division, commonly called a tumour, which serves no physiological purpose.

Under normal conditions, cell division in the body is tightly regulated to replace worn-out or damaged cells only as needed. A neoplasm ('new growth') is an abnormal proliferation of cells that escapes this normal regulatory control, forming a mass of tissue that grows without serving any useful function and is not properly coordinated with the growth of the surrounding normal tissue.

Neoplasms are broadly of two kinds:

• Benign neoplasm: grows slowly, remains localised/encapsulated, does not invade neighbouring tissue or spread (metastasise) to distant parts of the body — generally less dangerous. Example: a lipoma (a benign tumour of fat cells). …