Cancer Flashcards
What is a tumour?
A mass forming lesion (abnormal change to tissue)
What are neoplastic tumours?
A mass formed by uncontrolled cell proliferation —> tumours
What are non-neoplastic tumours?
Cellular proliferation in response to an inflammatory, infectious or reparative process
What is a neoplasm?
An abnormal and uncontrolled growth of cells
What are the 2 types of neoplasms?
- Benign
- Malignant
What does benign mean?
Stays localised
What does malignant?
Metastasis (invades local or distant tissues)
What are cancers?
Malignant neoplasms
Do malignant tumours always lead to death?
No eg. some skin cancers
When can benign tumours lead to death? (2)
- Become malignant
- Location eg. brain
What are hamartomas?
Localised benign growths of one or more mature cell types
What type of abnormalities do hamartomas show?
Architectural
What is heterotopias?
Tissue found where its not usually present
What is the difference between the names of benign vs malignant neoplasms?
- Benign —> -oma
- Malignant —> -sarcoma
What are squamous epithelial tissue neoplasms called?
- Benign —> squamous papilloma
- Malignant —> squamous cell carcinoma
What are gladular epithelial tissue neoplasms called?
- Benign —> adenoma
- Malignant —> adenocarcinoma
What are transitional epithelial tissue neoplasms called?
- Benign —> transitional papilloma
- Malignant —> transitional cell carcinoma
What are smooth muscle tissue neoplasms called?
- Benign —> leiomyoma
- Malignant —> leiomyosarcoma
What are bone tissue neoplasms called?
- Benign —> osteoma
- Malignant —> osteosarcoma
What are lymphocyte neoplasms called?
- Benign —> v. rare
- Malignant —> lymphoma
What are bone marrow neoplasms called?
- Benign —> v. rare
- Malignant —> leukaemia
What are teratomas?
Germ cell tumour containing multiple tissue types —> child born with deformities (ovum and sperm precursors)
Are teratomas malignant?
Not usually
What are the 4 differences between benign and malignant tumours?
- Invasion
- Metastasis
- Differentiation
- Growth Pattern
What does tumour invasion refer to?
Extension of tumour to adjacent connective tissues/structures
What is metastisis?
Spread of tumour to other tissues
eg. via blood vessels
What does tumour differentiation refer to?
How different are the tumour cells to the original cell type
What are the 4 differentiations between tumour and normal cells?
Tumour cells have…
1. Larger nucleus —> higher n:c
2. More mitosis —> higher mitotic index of tissue
3. Abnormal mitosis
4. Nuclear polymorphism (abnormal size and shape)
What does tumour growth pattern refer to?
How different is the architecture of the tumour to the original tissue
What is the growth pattern seen in tumours?
Less well defined architecture
Can benign tumours become malignant?
Yes
What are the 5 routes tumours spread via?
- Direct extension
- Haematogenous
- Lymphatic
- Transcoelomic
- Perineural
What is direct extension of a tumour?
Stromal response (associated changes in surrounding tissue)
What are the 3 results of direct extension?
- Fibroblastic response (desmoplastic response)
- Vascular proliferation (angiogenesis)
- Immune response
What is haematogenous spread?
Spread via blood vessels
Which 2 blood vessels are usually the route of haematogenous spread and why?
- Venules
- Capillaries
- Thinner walls
Which cancers usually spread first via haematogenous spread?
Sarcomas
How do sarcomas usually spread first?
Haematogenous
What is lymphatic spread?
Spread via lymphatics to lymph nodes etc.
Which tumours usually spread first via lymphatic spread?
Epithelial cancers
How do epithelial cancers usually spread first?
Lymphatic
What is transcoelomic spread?
Spread into body cavities
Which 2 cavities are usually used in transcoelomic spread?
- Pleural (lung cavity)
- Peritoneal (abdominal cavity)
What is perineural spread?
Spread via nerves
How is tumour metastasis assessed? (3)
- Clinically
- Radiologically
- Pathologically
What is the TNM system?
System to describe cancer
- Tumour —> size and extent of local invasion
- Nodes —> number of lymph nodes involved
- Metastases —> presence
How is tumour metastasis described?
Stage —> TNM system
What does tumour grade refer to?
Differentiation
What does tumour stage refer to?
Metastases
Is grade or stage more important for prognosis?
Stage
