1- Basic principles of surgical resection of tumours

Question 1

Name 3 roles of oncological surgery

Answer 1

• Prophylactic surgery
• Diagnosis and staging
• Definitive excision
• Palliative surgery
• Cytoreduction
• Management of oncological emergencies
• Surgery for supportive therapy
• Treatment of metastatic disease

Question 2

What are the main methods of diagnosis and grading tumours?

Answer 2

• Cytology: FNA, Impression smear - tell you the name of the tumour
• Histology: core biopsy, Punch biopsy, Incisional biopsy, excisional biopsy - tells you how malignant the tumour is

Question 3

How can you stage tumours?

Answer 3

• Radiography, ultrasound, CT and MRI
• Looking for metastatic disease and spread

Question 4

Describe cytoreductive excision of tumours

Answer 4

Leaves macroscopic volumes of tumour. Will recur unless given adjunctive therapy

Question 5

Describe marginal excision of tumours

Answer 5

Excision immediately outside the pseudocapsule of the tumour, leaving behind microscopic volumes of tumour. Local recurrence likely without adjuvant therapy

Question 6

Describe wide excision of tumours

Answer 6

Removal of the tumour with complete margins of normal tissue in all directions. Local recurrence unlikely

Question 7

Describe radical excision of a tumour

Answer 7

Removal of an entire anatomical structure or compartment containing the tumour e.g., limb amputation for a primary bone tumour or mastectomy. Local recurrence unlikely