Final answer:
A hormone-secreting cancerous tumor is generally called a neuroendocrine tumor (NET). These tumors can lead to excessive or insufficient hormone production, causing various disorders in the body. Diseases like hypersecretion and hyposecretion of hormones are often linked to the presence of these tumors in the endocrine system.
Step-by-step explanation:
A general medical term for a hormone-secreting cancerous tumor is referred to as a neuroendocrine tumor (NET). These tumors originate from the neuroendocrine cells, which are similar to nerve cells and hormone-producing cells. Diseases of the endocrine system include conditions where there is either an overproduction or underproduction of hormones, often due to tumors. Hypersecretion is the excessive production of hormones, typically caused by such a tumor.
For example, hypersecretion by the pituitary gland can lead to an overproduction of growth hormone (GH) and cause gigantism if it occurs in children or acromegaly in adults. The term 'cancer' refers to the uncontrolled growth and division of cells, and when it involves endocrine glands, it can affect hormone levels dramatically. Conditions such as hyperthyroidism, caused by an overactive thyroid gland, can lead to goiter, which is the enlargement of the thyroid gland. Conversely, hyposecretion, which is the inadequate production of hormones, can occur due to the destruction of hormone-secreting cells, often by the body's own immune system.
Cancers like NETs are medically termed as malignant neoplasms, and they can cause significant disruption to the body's hormonal balance. They can invade adjacent tissues and may even metastasize, which means they spread to other locations within the body. This abnormal cell growth can lead to various disorders depending on the specific hormone that is overproduced or underproduced.