precancerous
adjective
pre·can·cer·ous
(ˌ)prē-ˈkan(t)s-rəs 
-ˈkan(t)-sə-
: tending to become cancerous
a precancerous lesion
Examples of precancerous in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
It was shown in a clinical trial to have an 83.1% sensitivity rate for colorectal cancer, and correctly identified 89.9% of patients without colorectal cancer or precancerous lesions.
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Adriel Bettelheim, Axios, 29 July 2024
The study detected all late-stage cancers, while the test detected 55% of stage one cancers and 13% of precancerous polyps and other lesions.
—Ken Alltucker, USA TODAY, 4 Jan. 2024
Colonoscopies are more accurate at detecting cancer, allow for the removal of precancerous polyps, and are recommended every 10 years instead of every three years for the blood test.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 29 July 2024
About 90% of the study participants without advanced colorectal cancer or precancerous lesions tested negative on the blood test, compared with about 10% who had a false positive test result.
—Jacqueline Howard, CNN, 29 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for precancerous 
Adriel Bettelheim, Axios, 29 July 2024
The study detected all late-stage cancers, while the test detected 55% of stage one cancers and 13% of precancerous polyps and other lesions.
—Ken Alltucker, USA TODAY, 4 Jan. 2024
Colonoscopies are more accurate at detecting cancer, allow for the removal of precancerous polyps, and are recommended every 10 years instead of every three years for the blood test.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 29 July 2024
About 90% of the study participants without advanced colorectal cancer or precancerous lesions tested negative on the blood test, compared with about 10% who had a false positive test result.
—Jacqueline Howard, CNN, 29 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for precancerous
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'precancerous.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Precancerous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/precancerous. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
precancerous
adjective
pre·can·cer·ous
-ˈkan(t)s-(ə-)rəs
: tending to become cancerous : premalignant
a precancerous lesion
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