Cancer 1 Flashcards
Name 3 types of non neoplastic growth disorders
- Hyperplasia
- Hypertrophy
- Atrophy
What is hyperplasia?
Increase number of cells
What is hypertrophy?
Increased size of cells
What is atrophy?
Decreased size of cells
What is a neoplasm?
Abnormal mass of tissue with uncoordinated growth which persists in the same excessive manner after cessation of the stimulus which evoked the change
What is major difference between neoplasms and non neoplastic growths?
Non neoplastic growths are polyclonal where neoplasms are monoclonal
Name 2 mechanisms of growth disorders for non-neoplastic growths
- Normal
2. Adaption
Name 2 mechanisms of growth disorders for neoplastic growths
- Benign
2. Malignant
Name 2 structures malignant neoplasms break through which benign neoplasms do not
- Connective tissue
2. Surrounding / basement membrane
What is dysplasia?
Rapid growth of abnormal cells but the basement membrane remains intact
What does a dysplastic growth tend to indicate?
An early neoplastic process
Name 4 microscopic characteristics of dysplasia
- Cells of unequal size
- Pleomorhpism
- Hyperchromatism
- Presence of mitotic figures
What is pleomorhpism?
Abnormally shaped cells
What is hyperchromatism?
Excessive nuclear pigmentation
Describe a carcinoma in situ
- Early form of cancer
- No invasion of tumour into surrounding tissues
- No penetration through basement membrane
- Neoplastic cells proliferate in normal habitat
Describe the typical characteristics of a benign tumour compared to a malignant tumour
- Slower growing
- Capsulated
- Non-invasive
- Does not metastasize
- Well differentiated
What is metastasis?
Spread to a distance site
Name 3 types of metastasis
- Lymphatic
- Haematogenous
- Implantation in body cavities
What form of benign tumour can be particularly dangerous?
Secretory forms e.g. parathyroid adenomas
Describe the gross appearance of a benign tumour
Well circumscribed or encapsulated
Describe the gross appearance of a malignant tumour
Often poorly defined or irregular
Describe 4 components of the microscopic appearance of a benign tumour
- Few mitoses
- Usually resemble tissue of origin
- Necrosis is rare
- Nuclear morphology usually normal
Describe 4 components of the microscopic appearance of a malignant tumour
- Variable but may be many mitoses
- Variable but may only poorly resemble tissue of origin
- Necrosis is common
- Nuclear morphology may be variable
What type of tumour does a monomorphic neoplasm tend to be?
Benign
What type of tumour does a pleomorphic neoplasm tend to be?
Malignant
What does the suffix -oma indicate?
Tumour (usually benign)
Name 2 cancers ending in -oma which are malignant?
- Melanoma
2. Lymphoma
What does the suffix -carcinoma indicate?
Epithelial malignancy
What does the suffix -sarcoma indicate?
Connective tissue malignancy
What does the suffix -aemia indicate?
Malignancy of the bone marrow derived cells
Name several examples of prefixes used to indicate areas of the body
- Adeno (glandular epithelium)
- Papillo (non-glandular epithelium)
- Lipo (fat)
- Osteo (bone)
- Chondro (cartilage)
- Angio (blood vessel)
- Rhabdo (skeletal muscle)
- Leiomyo (smooth muscle)
Describe the cells in a lymphoma
Numerous small cells with dark nuclei and little to no cytoplasm
Name 3 ways samples are gained for pathologists to diagnose cancers
- Aspirations / smears
- Small tissue biopsies
- Large resections
Name 2 types of small tissue biospies
- Incisional
2. Excisional
Describe a needle biopsy
A needle is used to draw sample fluid and tissue from a lump to be studies
What is VIP machine?
Vacuum Infiltration Process used to dehydrate specimen to allow for processing
Name 4 components of pathology reporting for clinical teams
- Confirmation of tumour presence
- Type of tumour
- Grade
- Pathological staging
What is a tumour grade?
Captures anaplasticity of a tumour, quantifying the degree of differentiation of the cancerous cells
Why is grading of tumours important?
General predictor of behaviour
