What is the term for a collection of abnormal cells that may progress to cancer?

The term for a collection of abnormal cells that may progress to cancer is dysplasia. Dysplasia refers specifically to the presence of atypical cells within a tissue, which indicates a disorder in the growth and development of those cells. Dysplastic changes can vary in severity, and while not all dysplastic cells will necessarily progress to cancer, they have the potential to do so if left untreated or monitored.

Dysplasia differs from other terms like carcinoma, which refers to a type of cancer that arises from epithelial cells. Hyperplasia involves an increase in the number of normal cells in a tissue, which can occur due to various stimuli, but does not indicate abnormal cell characteristics associated with potential malignancy. Adenoma refers to a benign tumor of glandular tissue, which may have the potential to evolve into a malignant form, but is not inherently abnormal cells present in a dysplastic state.