Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Desmoplastic
Introduction
Overview
Overview
In medicine, desmoplasia refers to the formation of adhesions or fibrosis (fibrosis refers to scar tissue) in the vascular stroma of a neoplasm. It is usually used in the description of desmoplastic small round cell tumors.
Historical Perspective
Historical Perspective
Desmoplasia originates from the Greek desmos (meaning fetter or band) and plasia (meaning to form).
Pathophysiology
Pathophysiology
Gross Pathology
Usually you only see desmoplasia with malignant neoplasms, which can evoke a fibrosis response by invading healthy tissue.
Microscopic Pathology
Infiltrating metastatic ductal carcinomas of the breast often have a scirrous, stellate appearance caused by desmoplastic formations.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]