What is the term for abnormal tissue in the body?

Neoplasia is the term that refers to the process of abnormal and uncontrolled cell growth, which often results in the formation of a tumor. This can occur in various tissues throughout the body and can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). The characteristic feature of neoplasia is that the cells proliferate excessively inappropriately, disregarding normal regulatory mechanisms that control cell division and growth. This abnormal tissue formation is significant in medical fields, including oncology and pathology, as it indicates the presence of potential cancerous conditions that need to be evaluated and treated.

On the other hand, metaplasia refers to the reversible transformation of one differentiated cell type to another, often as an adaptive response, rather than an indication of abnormal growth. Immortality typically refers to the ability of cells to divide indefinitely, a characteristic seen in cancer cells but not directly synonymous with abnormal tissue. Cell to cell adhesion refers to the interactions that allow cells to connect and communicate with each other, which doesn’t inherently describe abnormal tissue.