Basic Oncology Diagnosis Flashcards
describe the advantages of cytology and histopathology and know indications for each
cytology: fast, less invasive, small sample size, no tissue orientation, unable to evaluate surrounding tissue, is usually done as THE FIRST sample because it is less expensive and no sedation needed
histology: more invasive, large sample size, tissue architecture maintained, can evaluate surrounding tissue reaction and invasion by tumor
describe basic differences between round cell, epithelial, and mesenchymal tumors
round cell (discrete): lymphona, transmissible venereal tumor, mast cell tumor, plasma cell tumor, histiocytoma (LYMPH)
epithelial: carcinoma/adenocarcinoma
mesenchymal: sarcoma
describe the difference between local disease, metastasis, and systemic disease (biologic behavior)
- benign: not invasive and will not metastasize
- locally invasive, low metastatic rate
- locally invasive, high metastatic rate
- systemic disease
common routes of metastasis:
1. epithelial tumors (carcinomas/adenocarcinomas): use lymphatics to travel to a sentinel lymph node
- mesenchymal tumors (sarcomas): use hematogenous routes to travel to the lungs
what is clinical staging?
describes where the cancer is in the patient’s body; is prognostic, helps with treatment planning
-determine what tests to perform based on tumor behavior
can use CBC/serum chemistry/UA, run a T4/FeLV + FIV test, or perform lymph node cytology, or thoracic radiographs, abdominal imaging, CT/MRI, or bone marrow cytology, depending on severity and budget
contrast staging versus grading
stage: description of WHERE cancer is located within the body (has it spread? to which organs?)
grade: a measure of the tumor cell appearance and degree of differentiation; often based on the resemblance in comparison to normal tissue cell of origin; how aggressive a tumor is
describe the WHO TNM staging system in general
T: tumor size
N: nodal metastasis
M: distant metastasis
describe benign versus malignant
benign: tumor does not spread to other parts of the body and does not invade nearby tissues
malignant: tumor can invade and destroy nearby tissue and has the potential to spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body
describe mass, tumor, and cancer
mass: lump in the body, may be benign or malignant
tumor: abnormal mass of tissue, may be benign or malignant
cancer: abnormal growth of cells, proliferating in an uncontrolled patter, which in some cases metastasizes, only malignant masses are cancer
describe differentiation, well-differentiated, and poorly-differentiated
differentiation: process by which cells become progressively more specialized, a normal process through which cells mature
well-differentiated: implies normal or normal adjacent progression, is specific to cancer but cell looks like normal counterpart
poorly differentiated: implies abnormal progression, specific to cancer but cell looks nothing like counterpart (poor prognosis if this is seen)
what are 10 common presenting complaints of cancer?
- swellings/lumps
- sores that don’t heal
- weight loss (cats especially)
- loss of appetite
- bleeding/discharge/hematuria
- odor
- difficulty eating or swallowing
- exercise intolerance. lethargy
- lameness
- difficulty breathing, urinating, defecating
what are the 6 common paraneoplastic syndromes that patients with cancer present with?
- hypercalcemia
- hypoglycemia
- hyperglobulinemia
- hypertrophic osteopathy
- anemia
- thrombocytopenia
provide a plan for a patient presenting with a lump
sample it!!
describe how to perform cytology? not an LO
always stain one slide
- are there cells present? may have just gotten fat
- did you aspirate what you thought you were aspirating? just fat?
- are the cells intact?
- does it look inflammatory or neoplastic? if see neutrophils and macrophages, likely inflammatory
- what is the predominant cell type? can tell you mesenchymal, round cell, or epithelial tumor cell type
describe physical exam for cancer? (not an LO)
