A mixed tumor is a tumor that derives from multiple tissue types. In turn citing:
-For requiring neoplastic types: Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition
- Without further specification:
- Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary A biplastic tumor or biphasic tumor has two tissue types. This page was last edited on 4 November 2019

True versus false

*A ''true'' mixed tumor contains multiple types of

neoplastic A neoplasm () is a type of abnormal and excessive growth of tissue. The process that occurs to form or produce a neoplasm is called neoplasia. The growth of a neoplasm is uncoordinated with that of the normal surrounding tissue, and persists ...

cells. Some sources require the included tissue types to be neoplastic for the definition of ''mixed tumor''. *A "false" mixed tumor contains one type of neoplastic cells, but which have more than one appearance. For example, benign pleomorphic salivary gland tumors may have some tumors cells that form pseudocartilage. Yet, all the tumor cells have similar myoepithelial profile on immunohistochemistry, and are thus classified as one cell type. Reactive or adaptive changes to a tumor does not count towards a classification as mixed. Such changes include angiogenesis (blood vessel proliferation) and/or

desmoplasia In medicine, desmoplasia is the growth of fibrous or connective tissue. It is also called desmoplastic reaction to emphasize that it is secondary to an insult. Desmoplasia may occur around a neoplasm, causing dense fibrosis around the tumor, or ...

(proliferation of connective tissue).

Number of cell types

*A ''biplastic tumor'' or ''biphasic tumor'' consists of two tissue types. *A

teratoma A teratoma is a tumor made up of several different types of tissue, such as hair, muscle, teeth, or bone. Teratomata typically form in the ovary, testicle, or coccyx. Symptoms Symptoms may be minimal if the tumor is small. A testicular ter ...

is the main tumor type that often includes more than two tissue types. They may form for example hair, muscle,

teeth A tooth ( : teeth) is a hard, calcified structure found in the jaws (or mouths) of many vertebrates and used to break down food. Some animals, particularly carnivores and omnivores, also use teeth to help with capturing or wounding prey, t ...

, and/or

bone A bone is a rigid organ that constitutes part of the skeleton in most vertebrate animals. Bones protect the various other organs of the body, produce red and white blood cells, store minerals, provide structure and support for the body, ...

Examples of true mixed tumors

Carcinosarcoma of the endometrium - annotated

References

{{reflist Neoplasms