1) Intro to path, carcinogenesis & neoplasia Flashcards
Pathology definition
The scientific study of disease
Aetiology
The cause of a disease
Pathogenesis
The mechanism causing the disease
Pathological and clinical manifestations
Structural and functional features of the disease
Complications and sequelae
Secondary, systematic or remote consequences of a disease
Prognosis
Anticipated course of the disease
Epidemiology
Incidence, prevalence and population distribution of a disease
Benign
Tumours remain localised to the tissue of origin and are very rarely lethal
Malignant
Tumours invade and spread from their origin and are often lethal
Ana-
Absence (anaphylaxis)
Dys-
Disordered (dysplasia)
Hyper-
Excess over normal (hyperthyroidism)
Hypo-
Deficiency below normal (hyperthyroidism)
Meta-
A change from one state to another (metaplasia)
Neo-
New (neoplasm)
-itis
Inflammation (tonsillitis)
-oma
A tumour (carcinoma)
-osis
A state or condition (scoliosis)
-oid
Bearing a resemblance to (rheumatoid disease)
-penia
Lack of (thrombocytopenia)
-opathy
An abnormal state lacking specific characteristics (lymphadenopathy)
Cells (BvM)
Well differentiated vs undifferentiated
Metastasis (spread) (BvM)
No vs Yes
Growth (BvM)
Slow, expansion, usually encapsulated vs Rapid, infiltration, invasion
Effects (BvM)
Usually local vs local and general
Tissue destruction (BvM)
Not usually vs extensive
Lethal (BvM)
Not usually vs Usually unless successfully treated
Adeno
Epithelial (glandular)
Fibro
Fibrous
Osteo
Bone
Chondro
Cartilage
Lipo
Adipose
Leiomyo
Smooth muscle
Rhabdomyo
Skeletal muscle
Carcinoma
For tumours derived from epithelial tissues
Sarcoma
For tumours derived from mesodermal (connective and supportive) tissues
Blastomas
Occur exclusively in very young patients (
Leukaemias
Tumours of the haematologic tissue of bone marrow
Lymphomas
Tumours of lymphoid tissue
Cancer refers to…
Spreading projections of the growth
Ways cancer cells differ from normal cells
- Reduced responsiveness to normal growth cells
- “immunity” from apoptosis (programmed cell death)
- Indefinite proliferative life span
- Autostimulation - autocrine growth stimulation
- Reduced cell to cell adherence
- Loss of anchorage dependance
- Greater mobility
Metastasis definition
The process whereby malignant tumours spread from their original site to form other secondary tumours at distant sites. As cancer cells are loosely attached, clumps can break off forming secondary tumours
Routes of metastasis
- Haematogenous: By blood stream
- Lymphatic: Formed in regional lymph nodes
- Transcoelomic: Spreading with a cavity (pleural)
- Implantation: Accidental spillage of tumour cells during surgery
Grading of cancers (1-4 based on degree of anaplasia)
- Useful for treatment planning and prognosis
1) well differentiated cells, closely resembles tissue of origin
2) moderately differentiated
3) poorly differentiated
4) very poorly differentiated, no resemblance to tissue of origin
Staging of cancers
1) Small, local
2) More extensive, local (locally invasive)
3) Regional lymph nodes involved
4) Distant metastasis spreads
T.N.M
T) Tumour size (0-4)
N) Lymph node status (0-2)
M) Anatomical extent of metastasis (0-4)
Cancer diagnosis
Endoscopy: Direct visualisation of internal structures using an endoscope
Imaging: plain x-ray, contrast study, CT, MRI, US
Lab investigation: Tissue sampling by biopsy
