Cancer 1

Question 1

Name 3 types of non neoplastic growth disorders

Answer 1

1. Hyperplasia
2. Hypertrophy
3. Atrophy

Question 2

What is hyperplasia?

Answer 2

Increase number of cells

Question 3

What is hypertrophy?

Answer 3

Increased size of cells

Question 4

What is atrophy?

Answer 4

Decreased size of cells

Question 5

What is a neoplasm?

Answer 5

Abnormal mass of tissue with uncoordinated growth which persists in the same excessive manner after cessation of the stimulus which evoked the change

Question 6

What is major difference between neoplasms and non neoplastic growths?

Answer 6

Non neoplastic growths are polyclonal where neoplasms are monoclonal

Question 7

Name 2 mechanisms of growth disorders for non-neoplastic growths

Answer 7

1. Normal

2. Adaption

Question 8

Name 2 mechanisms of growth disorders for neoplastic growths

Answer 8

1. Benign

2. Malignant

Question 9

Name 2 structures malignant neoplasms break through which benign neoplasms do not

Answer 9

1. Connective tissue

2. Surrounding / basement membrane

Question 10

What is dysplasia?

Answer 10

Rapid growth of abnormal cells but the basement membrane remains intact

Question 11

What does a dysplastic growth tend to indicate?

Answer 11

An early neoplastic process

Question 12

Name 4 microscopic characteristics of dysplasia

Answer 12

1. Cells of unequal size
2. Pleomorhpism
3. Hyperchromatism
4. Presence of mitotic figures

Question 13

What is pleomorhpism?

Answer 13

Abnormally shaped cells

Question 14

What is hyperchromatism?

Answer 14

Excessive nuclear pigmentation

Question 15

Describe a carcinoma in situ

Answer 15

• Early form of cancer
• No invasion of tumour into surrounding tissues
• No penetration through basement membrane
• Neoplastic cells proliferate in normal habitat

Question 16

Describe the typical characteristics of a benign tumour compared to a malignant tumour

Answer 16

• Slower growing
• Capsulated
• Non-invasive
• Does not metastasize
• Well differentiated

Question 17

What is metastasis?

Answer 17

Spread to a distance site

Question 18

Name 3 types of metastasis

Answer 18

1. Lymphatic
2. Haematogenous
3. Implantation in body cavities

Question 19

What form of benign tumour can be particularly dangerous?

Answer 19

Secretory forms e.g. parathyroid adenomas

Question 20

Describe the gross appearance of a benign tumour

Answer 20

Well circumscribed or encapsulated

Question 21

Describe the gross appearance of a malignant tumour

Answer 21

Often poorly defined or irregular

Question 22

Describe 4 components of the microscopic appearance of a benign tumour

Answer 22

1. Few mitoses
2. Usually resemble tissue of origin
3. Necrosis is rare
4. Nuclear morphology usually normal

Question 23

Describe 4 components of the microscopic appearance of a malignant tumour

Answer 23

1. Variable but may be many mitoses
2. Variable but may only poorly resemble tissue of origin
3. Necrosis is common
4. Nuclear morphology may be variable

Question 24

What type of tumour does a monomorphic neoplasm tend to be?

Answer 24

Benign

Question 25

What type of tumour does a pleomorphic neoplasm tend to be?

Answer 25

Malignant

Question 26

What does the suffix -oma indicate?

Answer 26

Tumour (usually benign)

Question 27

Name 2 cancers ending in -oma which are malignant?

Answer 27

1. Melanoma | 2. Lymphoma

Question 28

What does the suffix -carcinoma indicate?

Answer 28

Epithelial malignancy

Question 29

What does the suffix -sarcoma indicate?

Answer 29

Connective tissue malignancy

Question 30

What does the suffix -aemia indicate?

Answer 30

Malignancy of the bone marrow derived cells

Question 31

Name several examples of prefixes used to indicate areas of the body

Answer 31

- Adeno (glandular epithelium) - Papillo (non-glandular epithelium) - Lipo (fat) - Osteo (bone) - Chondro (cartilage) - Angio (blood vessel) - Rhabdo (skeletal muscle) - Leiomyo (smooth muscle)

Question 32

Describe the cells in a lymphoma

Answer 32

Numerous small cells with dark nuclei and little to no cytoplasm

Question 33

Name 3 ways samples are gained for pathologists to diagnose cancers

Answer 33

1. Aspirations / smears 2. Small tissue biopsies 3. Large resections

Question 34

Name 2 types of small tissue biospies

Answer 34

1. Incisional | 2. Excisional

Question 35

Describe a needle biopsy

Answer 35

A needle is used to draw sample fluid and tissue from a lump to be studies

Question 36

What is VIP machine?

Answer 36

Vacuum Infiltration Process used to dehydrate specimen to allow for processing

Question 37

Name 4 components of pathology reporting for clinical teams

Answer 37

1. Confirmation of tumour presence 2. Type of tumour 3. Grade 4. Pathological staging

Question 38

What is a tumour grade?

Answer 38

Captures anaplasticity of a tumour, quantifying the degree of differentiation of the cancerous cells

Question 39

Why is grading of tumours important?

Answer 39

General predictor of behaviour