Final answer:
Neoplasia refers to an abnormal proliferation of cells that can form a neoplasm.
Step-by-step explanation:
Neoplasia is the process that results in the formation of a neoplasm, which is an abnormal proliferation of cells. The term neoplasm can refer to benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous) growths. Benign neoplasms are localized growths that do not invade surrounding tissues or metastasize to distant organs.
In contrast, malignant neoplasms, also known as cancers, have the potential to invade nearby tissues and spread to other parts of the body, a process called metastasis. This characteristic differentiates malignant tumors from benign ones, which remain contained and do not possess the ability to metastasize.