“Adeno-” is a prefix that means “gland.” In general, glands secrete things and are classified as endocrine or exocrine. Endocrine glands secrete things into the bloodstream, like hormones.The word “carcinoma” means a malignant tumor that starts in epithelial tissue.Put the two words together and you get “adenocarcinoma,” which means a malignant tumor in epithelial tissue, specifically in a gland.
A malignant cancer that begins in cells that line certain internal organs and that have glandular (secretory) properties.
