Adenocarcinoma

What does adenocarcinoma mean?

Adenocarcinoma is a type of cancer made up of cells that group together to form structures called glands. This type of cancer can start almost anywhere in the body. Common locations include the colon, lung, breast, and prostate.

Types of adenocarcinoma

Adenocarcinoma is a word used to describe a group of cancers. This group includes many different types of adenocarcinoma and the treatment provided depends on the location and specific type of adenocarcinoma.

More than one type of adenocarcinoma can be found in some areas of the body. In these areas, the subtype of cancer will be included in the diagnosis name. For example, endometrioid adenocarcinoma is a subtype of adenocarcinoma that starts in the endometrium.

Common locations and types of adenocarcinoma include:

• Breast
  • Invasive ductal carcinoma
  • Invasive lobular carcinoma
• Esophagus
• Stomach
• Colon
• Prostate
• Ovary
  • Serous adenocarcinoma
  • Clear cell adenocarcinoma
  • Endometrioid adenocarcinoma
• Uterus and endometrium
  • Serous adenocarcinoma
  • Clear cell adenocarcinoma
  • Endometrioid adenocarcinoma
• Kidney
  • Clear cell renal cell carcinoma
  • Chromophobe renal cell carcinoma
  • Papillary renal cell carcinoma
• Pancreas
• Liver and bile ducts
  • Hepatocellular carcinoma
  • Cholangiocarcinoma
• Lung

Important pathologic features

If you have been diagnosed with adenocarcinoma, your pathology report will include important additional information that will help guide your medical care. The following information will be provided after a sample of the tumour is examined under the microscope by a pathologist.

• The histologic type of adenocarcinoma.