What is the definition of carcinoma?

Carcinoma is defined as a malignant tumor that originates in epithelial tissue, which line the surfaces of organs and structures throughout the body. This type of cancer has the potential to invade surrounding tissues and metastasize, or spread, to other parts of the body. Carcinomas can arise in various organs, including the lungs, breast, prostate, and colon, and are categorized based on their tissue of origin.

The other options provide definitions that do not accurately describe carcinoma. A non-malignant tumor refers to a benign growth that does not invade neighboring tissues or spread, thus differing fundamentally from carcinoma. A slow-growing tumor might refer to benign tumors or some types of cancers, but growth rate alone does not define a carcinoma as it can vary widely. A tumor resulting from inflammation does not specifically describe carcinoma and may pertain to other types of conditions or neoplasms that are not cancerous.