anaplasia: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very lowSpecialized/Technical
Quick answer
What does “anaplasia” mean?
The loss of structural and functional differentiation in cells, a hallmark of malignant tumours.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The loss of structural and functional differentiation in cells, a hallmark of malignant tumours.
The reversion of differentiated cells to a more primitive, undifferentiated, and often more aggressive state, frequently used in pathology and oncology to describe the morphological changes associated with cancer progression.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or spelling. The term is identically used in medical contexts globally.
Connotations
Exclusively negative and diagnostic, associated with severe disease (cancer).
Frequency
Used with identical frequency in specialized medical literature in both regions. Unknown to the general public.
Grammar
How to Use “anaplasia” in a Sentence
The biopsy showed (marked/severe) anaplasia.There is evidence of anaplasia in the tumour cells.The degree of anaplasia correlates with the prognosis.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “anaplasia” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The histology report described anaplastic cells.
- It was an anaplastic large cell lymphoma.
American English
- The biopsy revealed anaplastic features.
- He was diagnosed with anaplastic thyroid carcinoma.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Exclusively used in biomedical research, pathology, and oncology publications.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Core term in histopathology for grading the aggressiveness of cancers (e.g., Gleason score for prostate cancer, nuclear grading in breast cancer).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “anaplasia”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “anaplasia”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “anaplasia”
- Using it as a synonym for 'metastasis' (spread of cancer). Anaplasia is about cell appearance, not location.
- Pronouncing it with a 'z' sound (/ˌæn.əˈpleɪ.zɪə/). The correct sound is a voiced 'zh' /ʒ/.
- Using it outside a medical/biological context.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Anaplasia describes how the cancer cells look under a microscope—primitive and disordered. The spread of cancer to other organs is called 'metastasis'.
It is a key component of grading. Cancers are often graded (e.g., Grade 1 to 4) based on features including how much anaplasia (loss of normal structure) they show. More anaplasia usually means a higher grade.
Very rarely, and it is highly unusual. Pronounced anaplasia is a characteristic feature of malignant (cancerous) tumours.
The opposite is differentiation or specialization, where cells mature and develop the specific structures and functions needed for their particular tissue role (e.g., a liver cell becoming a fully functional liver cell).
The loss of structural and functional differentiation in cells, a hallmark of malignant tumours.
Anaplasia is usually specialized/technical in register.
Anaplasia: in British English it is pronounced /ˌæn.əˈpleɪ.ʒə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌæn.əˈpleɪ.ʒə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'ANAlogy to PLAStic': like plastic that can be moulded into anything, anaplastic cells lose their specific shape and function, becoming primitive and adaptable like a stem cell – but dangerously so.
Conceptual Metaphor
REGRESSION/DEGENERATION: Cells 'forget' their trained job and revert to a chaotic, primitive state.
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'anaplasia' primarily used?