Top 10 Commonly Confused Words in Pathology

Top 10 Commonly Confused Words in Pathology 1. Benign vs. Malignant One of the most fundamental distinctions in pathology is between benign and malignant. Benign tumors are non-cancerous, while malignant tumors are cancerous. Understanding this difference is crucial, as it determines the course of treatment and prognosis for a patient. 2. Inflammation vs. Infection Inflammation and infection are often used interchangeably, but they're not the same. Inflammation is the body's response to injury or irritation, while infection is caused by the invasion of pathogens. While both can present with similar symptoms, the underlying causes and treatments differ. 3. Congenital vs. Hereditary Congenital and hereditary conditions are often confused. Congenital conditions are present at birth, either due to genetic factors or environmental influences during pregnancy. Hereditary conditions, on the other hand, are passed down through generations via genetic mutations. While there can be an overlap, not all congenital conditions are hereditary. 4. Hyperplasia vs. Hypertrophy Hyperplasia and hypertrophy both refer to an increase in cell size, but they differ in the number of cells involved. Hyperplasia is an increase in cell number, while hypertrophy is an increase in cell size. Understanding this difference is crucial in diagnosing and managing various conditions.