By the dictionary definition, “neoplasm” is a neutral term similar to “tumor,” not specifically meaning “cancerous,” but not ruling it out either. That’s the dictionary definition.
Now, in real life, when a medical type uses the term “neoplasm,” is it with the connotation of we don’t know what it is, or is it a word they throw out when they actually are implying “malignant neoplasm?”
IANAD, but when I’ve seen it applied, it has been the basis for the exams I was about to do to figure out what it actually was. Until they actually figure out what it is, they have to call it something.
As I understand it, it means [sub]abnormal[/sub] new growth.
BTW…another interesting term, one which has been applied to me, personally, is “incidentoma,” meaning, “We found a bump/lump/something. Don’t know what.”
Turns out one of my adrenal glands has a lump on it that ain’t doing nothing.
Ah, it’s medico for, “Damned if I know!”
I work in toxicology research and in that field neoplasm means a tumor that is either benign or malignant.
Things that are not neoplasms we call non-neoplastic lesions.
From my pathology studies, just “tumor” means swelling/mass*, but it has been more associated with cancer (neoplasm). There may be more to it, but at this point right now I’m not going to dig into the book (although I should).
Neoplasm IS new abnormal growth. When medical types use that, they know they’re talking about a new abnormal growth in an area of the body. A piece of tissue that shouldn’t be there.
There is “malignant neoplasm” and “benign neoplasm”. Just like you call benign vs malignants tumors/cancers (because it all ends up being put as the same thing).
Now, if a medical type sees a “tumor”, he/she should make sure that the tumor is really cancer/neoplasm, or another type of swelling (infection, infestation, parasite, granuloma, hyperplasia, etc.).
*The five cardinal signs of inflammation in Latin: Redness (rubor), Swelling (tumor), Warmth (calor), Pain (dor), loss of function (functio lese?)
Neoplasia also implies that the growth is uncontrolled, i.e., it can continue growing in the absence of a stimulus. This sets it apart from hyperplasia, which is another form of abnormal cellular proliferation, but one that (in theory) can be reversed by removing the stimulus, such as chronic inflammation or an overabundant hormone.