sporadic disease

The term "sporadic" describes something that occurs irregularly or without a clear pattern. In the context of pathology, "sporadic disease" refers to conditions that appear randomly and do not run in families.12

While most cancers are sporadic, meaning they are not inherited, they can arise from genetic mutations that occur within an individual's lifetime. These mutations can affect genes involved in cell growth and DNA repair. For example, sporadic retinoblastoma, a childhood eye tumor, occurs when two mutations happen in the RB gene within the same retinal cell, a rare event.2

Prion diseases, such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, can also manifest in sporadic forms, appearing randomly in the population. The exact molecular cause for these sporadic cases is not yet understood.3

Sporotrichosis, a fungal infection, is typically acquired through contact with the fungus found in soil or on vegetation, entering the body via a scratch or abrasion.4