Desmoplasia

Desmoplastic small round cell tumour, with desmoplasia surrounding nests of cancer cells.

In medicine, desmoplasia is the growth of fibrous connective tissue.[1] It is also called a desmoplastic reaction to emphasize that it is secondary to an insult. Desmoplasia may occur around a neoplasm, causing dense fibrosis around the tumor,[1] or scar tissue (adhesions) within the abdomen after abdominal surgery.[1]

Desmoplasia is usually only associated with malignant neoplasms, which can evoke a fibrotic response invading healthy tissue. Invasive ductal carcinomas of the breast often have a stellate appearance caused by desmoplastic formations.

  1. ^ a b c "Definition of Desmoplasia". MedicineNet. March 19, 2012. Archived from the original on August 6, 2012. Retrieved November 26, 2009.