Rare Cancers, Cancer Subtypes, and Pre-Cancers
If you're having trouble finding information about a type of cancer, it may be a rare cancer or have more than one name. It might also be a condition known as a pre-cancer, which is something that might lead to or turn into cancer later. The links below might help you find the information you need.
What is a rare cancer?
Rare cancers are not as common as other cancers. Because fewer people have had them, less is known about them, and information might be harder to find.
Why is it hard to find information on rare cancers?
Some cancers are so rare that only a small number of people are diagnosed with them each year. What is known about each type of cancer is usually learned from clinical trials and doctor's experiences treating people with that cancer type. Because not many people have these rare cancers, they may not have been studied in clinical trials, and some doctors might not have taken care of anyone with them. Much of the information about these cancers comes from case studies, where doctors share the experience of one patient so that others can learn about it.
Where to find treatment for a rare cancer
If you or someone you know has a rare cancer, you may need to travel to find a doctor or cancer center that has experience treating that cancer. Larger cancer centers or hospitals are also more likely to have clinical trials (research studies) you might be able to take part in. ACS has information that can help you choose a cancer center or hospital or choose a cancer doctor.
List of rare cancers, cancer subtypes, and pre-cancers
The list below includes cancerous and pre-cancerous conditions (as well as some other conditions that might be related to cancer) and where to find more information about them.
- Acinic cell carcinoma – a type of salivary gland cancer
- ACTH-secreting tumor – this can be a type of pituitary tumor or pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor
- Actinic keratosis – a skin condition that sometimes leads to squamous cell skin cancer
- Acute erythroid leukemia – a subtype of acute myeloid leukemia
- Acute lymphoblastic leukemia – also known as acute lymphocytic leukemia
- Acute megakaryoblastic leukemia – a subtype of acute myeloid leukemia
- Acute monocytic leukemia – a subtype of acute myeloid leukemia
- Acute myeloblastic leukemia - a subtype of acute myeloid leukemia
- Acute myelocytic leukemia – also known as acute myeloid leukemia
- Acute myelogenous leukemia – also known as acute myeloid leukemia
- Acute myelomonocytic leukemia – a subtype of acute myeloid leukemia
- Acute non-lymphocytic leukemia – also known as acute myeloid leukemia
- Acute promyelocytic leukemia – a subtype of acute myeloid leukemia
- Adamantinoma – a type of bone cancer in young adults. See the National Cancer Institute
- Adenoid cystic carcinoma – a rare type of cancer that can start in organs such as the salivary glands, lungs, or breast
- Alveolar soft part sarcoma – a type of soft tissue sarcoma
- Ampullary cancer (carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater) – a type of cancer that starts where digestive ducts empty into the small intestine, and which is treated like pancreatic cancer
- Angiosarcoma – a type of soft tissue sarcoma, which can sometimes start in the breast
- Appendix (appendiceal) neuroendocrine (carcinoid) tumor – a type of gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumor
- Askin tumor – a type of Ewing tumor (Ewing sarcoma)
- B-cell lymphoma – a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma
- Barrett's disease (Barrett's esophagus) – a condition that can sometimes lead to esophagus cancer
- Bartholin gland cancer – a type of vulvar cancer
- Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma of the anus (previously known as cloacogenic carcinoma) – a type of anal cancer
- Bowen disease (squamous cell carcinoma in situ) – a very early form of squamous cell skin cancer, which can sometimes develop on the penis
- Bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (adenocarcinoma in situ) – a type of non-small cell lung cancer
- Carcinoid tumor – a type of neuroendocrine tumor (NET) that can develop in the lungs or in the gastrointestinal (digestive) tract
- Carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater – a type of cancer that starts where digestive ducts empty into the small intestine, and which is treated like pancreatic cancer
- Cardiac angiosarcoma – a type of soft tissue sarcoma that starts in blood vessels of the heart
- Castleman disease (giant lymph node hyperplasia; angiofollicular lymph node hyperplasia) – a rare condition in which there's an overgrowth of cells in the lymph nodes. See the Castleman Disease Collaborative Network or the National Institutes of Health Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.
- Cholangiocarcinoma – also known as bile duct cancer
- Choriocarcinoma – a type of germ cell tumor that can start in the testicles, ovaries, or brain
- Choroid plexus tumor – a rare type of brain and spinal cord tumor that most often occurs in children
- Chondrosarcoma – a type of bone cancer that starts in early forms of cartilage cells
- Chordoma – a type of bone cancer
- Chromophobe renal cell carcinoma – a type of kidney cancer
- Chronic eosinophilic leukemia – See the National Cancer Institute or National Institutes of Health Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center
- Chronic neutrophilic leukemia – See the National Cancer Institute or National Institutes of Health Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center
- Clear cell sarcoma – a type of soft tissue sarcoma; also a rare type of kidney cancer in children (known as clear cell sarcoma of the kidney, or CCSK)
- Craniopharyngioma – a rare type of brain tumor that can occur in adults or children
- Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans – a type of soft tissue tumor that starts in the deep layers of the skin
- Desmoid tumor (also known as fibromatosis) – a type of intermediate soft tissue tumor
- Desmoplastic small round cell tumor – a type of soft tissue sarcoma
- Dysgerminoma – a type of germ cell tumor that starts in the ovaries
- Embryonal carcinoma – a type of testicular cancer
- Endodermal sinus tumor (yolk sac tumor) – a type of germ cell tumor that most often starts in the testicles or ovaries
- Endometrial stromal sarcoma – a type of uterine sarcoma
- Ependymoma – a type of brain and spinal cord tumor that can occur in adults or children
- Epithelial appendix (appendiceal) cancer – See the National Cancer Institute
- Epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma – a type of salivary gland cancer
- Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) – a rare type of soft tissue sarcoma; see the National Cancer Institute
- Epithelioid sarcoma – a type of soft tissue sarcoma
- Essential thrombocythemia – a condition in which the body makes too many blood platelets; see the National Cancer Institute or National Institutes of Health Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center
- Esthesioneuroblastoma (olfactory neuroblastoma) – a type of nasal cavity and paranasal sinus cancer
- Extra-cranial malignant rhabdoid tumor (MRT) – a type of soft tissue sarcoma; see the National Cancer Institute
- Extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type – a type of lymphoma of the skin
- Fallopian tube cancer – see ovarian cancer
- Fibrolamellar carcinoma – a type of liver cancer
- Fibromatosis – a condition in which a person hasone or more soft tissue tumors called fibromas
- Fibromyxoid sarcoma (Evans’ tumor) – a type of soft tissue sarcoma
- Fibrosarcoma – a type of soft tissue sarcoma or bone cancer
- Folliculotropic mycosis fungoides – a type of lymphoma of the skin
- Ganglioglioma – a type of brain tumor that can occur in adults or children
- Ganglioneuroblastoma – a type of tumor related to neuroblastoma
- Gastric Adenocarcinoma and Proximal Polyposis of the Stomach (GAPPS) - an inherited condition that increases the risk of stomach cancer
- Gastrinoma – a type of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor
- Gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer – a cancer that occurs where the esophagus meets the stomach; see esophagus cancer
- Gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) (hydatidiform mole; gestational trophoblastic neoplasia) – Seen the National Cancer Institute or National Institutes of Health Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center
- Germ cell tumor – a type of childhood tumor that occurs most often in the testicles or ovaries, but can also occur in other parts of the body such as the brain
- Giant cell tumor of bone – a type of bone cancer
- Glucagonoma – a type of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor
- Granulomatous slack skin – a skin condition often linked with lymphoma of the skin
- Hairy cell leukemia – a type of white blood cell cancer that is similar to chronic lymphocytic leukemia
- Heart cancer (cardiac angiosarcoma) – a soft tissue sarcoma that starts in the muscle or blood vessels of the heart
- Hemangioendothelioma – a type of soft tissue sarcoma
- Hemangiosarcoma – a type of soft tissue sarcoma
- Hepatobiliary cancer – see bile duct cancer, liver cancer, or gallbladder cancer
- Hepatoblastoma – a type of childhood liver cancer
- Hepatocellular carcinoma – the most common type of liver cancer
- Hepatoma – another name for hepatocellular carcinoma, the most commmon type of liver cancer
- Hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC) – an inherited syndrome that increases a person's risk of stomach cancer
- Hurthle cell cancer (oxyphil cell carcinoma) – a type of thyroid cancer
- Insulinoma – a type of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor
- Islet cell tumor – another name for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor
- Keratoacanthoma – a type of skin tumor; see basal and squamous cell cancer
- Klatskin tumor (also called perihilar or hilar tumor) – a type of bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma)
- Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) – a type of lung cancer
- Large granular lymphocyte (LGL) leukemia – a type of white blood cell cancer related to chronic lymphocytic leukemia
- Leiomyosarcoma – a type of soft tissue sarcoma that starts in smooth muscle cells, often in the uterus
- Leydig cell tumor – a type of testicular cancer
- Lip cancer – a type of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer
- Liposarcoma – a type of soft tissue sarcoma
- Lymphomatoid papulosis – a skin condition related to lymphoma of the skin
- Lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma – also known as Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia
- Malignant mesenchymoma – a type of soft tissue sarcoma
- Malignant mixed mullerian tumor (also known as malignant mixed mesodermal tumor or uterine carcinosarcoma) – a type of endometrial cancer
- Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) – a type of soft tissue sarcoma
- Malignant rhabdoid tumor of the kidney – a rare type of kidney cancer seen most often in children; see Wilms tumor
- Medulloepithelioma – a rare type of eye cancer in children; see retinoblastoma
- Meningioma – a type of brain or spinal cord tumor that can occur in adults or children
- Mesoblastic nephroma – a rare type of childhood kidney cancer; see Wilms tumor
- Metaplastic cancer of the breast – see the National Institutes of Health Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center
- Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) – a condition that sometimes leads to multiple myeloma or lymphoma
- Mouth cancer – see oral cavity & oropharyngeal cancer or salivary gland cancer
- Mucinous cystic neoplasm – a rare type of pancreatic tumor; see pancreatic cancer
- Mucoepidermoid carcinoma – a type of salivary gland cancer
- Muscle cancer (myosarcoma) – cancer that starts in muscle cells; see rhabdomyosarcoma, soft tissue sarcoma, or uterine sarcoma
- Myoepithelial carcinoma – a rare type of cancer that most often occurs in the salivary glands
- Mycosis fungoides – a type of lymphoma of the skin
- Myelofibrosis – a condition in which scar tissue (fibrosis) forms in the bone marrow; see the National Cancer Institute or National Institutes of Health Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center
- Myxofibrosarcoma – a type of soft tissue sarcoma
- Nephroblastoma – another name for Wilms tumor
- Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin – another name for Merkel cell skin cancer
- NUT carcinoma – See the National Cancer Institute
- Oat cell cancer – another name for small cell lung cancer, a type of lung cancer
- Occult primary cancer – another name for cancer of unknown primary
- Ocular or intraocular melanoma (also uveal, conjunctival, orbital, adnexal) – a type of eye cancer
- Olfactory neuroblastoma (esthesioneuroblastoma) – a type of nasal cavity and paranasal sinus cancer
- Oligodendroglioma – a type of brain or spinal cord tumor that can occur in adults or children
- Oncocytic carcinoma – a rare type of cancer that can start in different organs, including the salivary glands
- Ovarian small cell cancer – See the National Cancer Institute or National Institutes of Health Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center
- Paget disease – a term used to describe a type of breast cancer (Paget disease of the breast), as well as other conditions related to anal cancer and vulvar cancer. (These are different from Paget disease of bone, which is related to osteosarcoma and other bone cancers.)
- Pagetoid reticulosis – a rare type of lymphoma of the skin
- Paraganglioma (extra-adrenal pheochromocytoma) – a rare type of nerve tumor; see the National Cancer Institute or the National Institutes of Health Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center
- Parathyroid cancer – a rare type of cancer that starts in the parathyroid glands; see thyroid cancer or the National Cancer Institute
- Periosteal osteosarcoma – a type of osteosarcoma
- Peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PPNET) – a type of Ewing tumor
- Pheochromocytoma – a type of adrenal gland tumor; see adrenal cancer
- Phyllodes tumor – a type of breast tumor
- Pineoblastoma – a type of brain and spinal cord tumor in children
- Plasmacytoma – see multiple myeloma
- Polycythemia vera – see the National Cancer Institute or National Institutes of Health Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center
- Polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma – a type of salivary cancer
- Primary cutaneous lymphoma (many types) – another name for lymphoma of the skin
- Primary peritoneal carcinoma – see ovarian cancer
- Prolactinoma (lactotroph adenoma) – a type of pituitary tumor
- Prolymphocytic leukemia – a type of leukemia related to chronic lymphocytic leukemia
- Renal cell carcinoma – a type of kidney cancer
- Sarcomatoid carcinoma (carcinosarcoma) – a rare type of cancer that can occur in different parts of the body, including the lungs
- Schwannoma – a type of tumor that starts in Schwann cells that surround and insulate nerves. These tumors can start near the brain and spinal cord in adults or children, or in other parts of the body.
- Sclerosing epithelioid fibrosarcoma – see the National Cancer Institute
- Sebaceous carcinoma - see the American Academy of Dermatology
- Seminoma – a type of germ cell tumor that most often starts in the testicles
- Sertoli cell tumor – a type of testicular cancer
- Sezary syndrome – a type of lymphoma of the skin
- Sinus cancer – see nasal cavity and paranasal sinus cancer
- Skin adnexal tumors – a group of tumors that start in structures in the skin such as hair follicles or sweat glands; see basal and squamous cell cancer
- Solid pseudopapillary neoplasm – a type of slow-growing tumor in the pancreas; see pancreatic cancer
- Solitary fibrous tumor – a type of soft tissue tumor; see soft tissue sarcoma
- Solitary plasmacytoma – see multiple myeloma
- Somatostatinoma – a type of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor
- Spermatocytic seminoma – a type of testicular cancer
- Spindle cell neoplasm, spindle cell tumor, spindle cell carcinoma, spindle cell sarcoma – a type of tumor made up of cells shaped like spindles. These tumors can be either benign (not cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). A spindle cell tumor might be seen in:
- Subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma – a type of lymphoma of the skin
- Synovial sarcoma – a type of soft tissue sarcoma
- T-cell lymphoma – a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which can sometimes start in the skin
- Teratoma – a type of germ cell tumor that most often starts in the ovaries or testicles
- Throat cancer – cancer that starts in the upper part of the throat (see nasopharyngeal cancer); middle part of the throat (see oral cavity & oropharyngeal cancer), or voice box or lower part of the throat (see laryngeal & hypopharyngeal cancer)
- Thymoma – a type of tumor that starts in the thymus; see thymus cancer
- Tongue cancer – see oral cavity & oropharyngeal cancer
- Tonsil cancer – see oral cavity & oropharyngeal cancer
- Trabecular cancer – another name for Merkel cell cancer
- Translocation renal cell carcinoma – a rare type of kidney cancer; see the National Cancer Institute
- Transitional cell carcinoma (urothelial carcinoma) – a type of cancer that can start in the bladder, kidney, or other parts of the urinary tract
- Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (formerly malignant fibrous histiocytoma) – a type of soft tissue sarcoma or bone cancer
- Urachal cancer – a rare type of bladder cancer; see the National Institutes of Health Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center
- Urethral cancer – cancer that starts in the tube leading out of the bladder
- Urothelial carcinoma (transitional cell carcinoma) – a type of cancer that can start in the bladder, kidney, or other parts of the urinary tract
- Uterine cancer – see endometrial cancer or uterine sarcoma
- Verrucous carcinoma – a rare type of cancer that starts most often in the mouth, but can also start on the vulva, penis, or other parts of the body
- VIPoma – a type of neuroendocrine tumor that most often starts in the pancreas
- Vocal cord/voice box cancer – see laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer
- Womb cancer – see endometrial cancer or uterine sarcoma
- Yolk sac tumor (endodermal sinus tumor, infantile embryonal cancer) – a type of germ cell tumor that most often starts in the ovaries or testicles
- Renal cell carcinoma – a type of kidney cancer
- Sarcomatoid carcinoma (carcinosarcoma) – a rare type of cancer that can occur in different parts of the body, including the lungs
- Schwannoma – a type of tumor that starts in Schwann cells that surround and insulate nerves. These tumors can start near the brain and spinal cord in adults or children, or in other parts of the body.
- Sclerosing epithelioid fibrosarcoma – see the National Cancer Institute
- Sebaceous carcinoma - see the American Academy of Dermatology
- Seminoma – a type of germ cell tumor that most often starts in the testicles
- Sertoli cell tumor – a type of testicular cancer
- Sezary syndrome – a type of lymphoma of the skin
- Sinus cancer – see nasal cavity and paranasal sinus cancer
- Skin adnexal tumors – a group of tumors that start in structures in the skin such as hair follicles or sweat glands; see basal and squamous cell cancer
- Solid pseudopapillary neoplasm – a type of slow-growing tumor in the pancreas; see pancreatic cancer
- Solitary fibrous tumor – a type of soft tissue tumor; see soft tissue sarcoma
- Solitary plasmacytoma – see multiple myeloma
- Somatostatinoma – a type of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor
- Spermatocytic seminoma – a type of testicular cancer
- Subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma – a type of lymphoma of the skin
- Synovial sarcoma – a type of soft tissue sarcoma
- T-cell lymphoma – a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which can sometimes start in the skin
- Teratoma – a type of germ cell tumor that most often starts in the ovaries or testicles
- Throat cancer – cancer that starts in the upper part of the throat (see nasopharyngeal cancer); middle part of the throat (see oral cavity & oropharyngeal cancer), or voice box or lower part of the throat (see laryngeal & hypopharyngeal cancer)
- Thymoma – a type of tumor that starts in the thymus; see thymus cancer
- Tongue cancer – see oral cavity & oropharyngeal cancer
- Tonsil cancer – see oral cavity & oropharyngeal cancer
- Trabecular cancer – another name for Merkel cell cancer
- Translocation renal cell carcinoma – a rare type of kidney cancer; see the National Cancer Institute
- Transitional cell carcinoma (urothelial carcinoma) – a type of cancer that can start in the bladder, kidney, or other parts of the urinary tract
- Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (formerly malignant fibrous histiocytoma) – a type of soft tissue sarcoma or bone cancer
- Urachal cancer – a rare type of bladder cancer; see the National Institutes of Health Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center
- Urethral cancer – cancer that starts in the tube leading out of the bladder
- Urothelial carcinoma (transitional cell carcinoma) – a type of cancer that can start in the bladder, kidney, or other parts of the urinary tract
- Uterine cancer – see endometrial cancer or uterine sarcoma
- Verrucous carcinoma – a rare type of cancer that starts most often in the mouth, but can also start on the vulva, penis, or other parts of the body
- VIPoma – a type of neuroendocrine tumor that most often starts in the pancreas
- Vocal cord/voice box cancer – see laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer
- Womb cancer – see endometrial cancer or uterine sarcoma
- Yolk sac tumor (endodermal sinus tumor, infantile embryonal cancer) – a type of germ cell tumor that most often starts in the ovaries or testicles
To find more information about rare cancers, cancer subtypes, and pre-cancers
This list does not include all types of rare cancers, cancer subtypes, and pre-cancers. If you can't find the type of cancer you’re looking for here or would like more information, the National Institutes of Health Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center website has information about rare cancers, pre-cancers, and cancer subtypes, as well as conditions that might raise a person's risk for cancer.
You can also find more detailed information about some rare cancers on the National Cancer Institute website.
- Written by
The American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team
Our team is made up of doctors and oncology certified nurses with deep knowledge of cancer care as well as journalists, editors, and translators with extensive experience in medical writing.
Last Revised: February 27, 2024
American Cancer Society medical information is copyrighted material. For reprint requests, please see our Content Usage Policy.
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