Cancer Flashcards
Diagnostic investigations for bladder cancer
Cystoscopy
(other Ix: bloods - FBC for anaemia, ALP may be high. Urinalysis - haematuria. Urinary cytology. Renal and bladder USS. CT urogram. Bone scan)
In situ means
Tumour has not invaded the basement membrane i.e. not yet malignant
Breast cancer risk factors
Increasing age Early menarche Late menopause Positive FH Endogenous/exogenous oestrogen exposure (hormone therapy/OCP)
Breast cancer with eczema like rash
Paget’s disease of the breast
Tumour marker for breast cancer
Ca15-3
n.b. it has poor sensitivity and Ca27-29 is now better. These are still not commonly used.
Breast cancer Ix
<35years - USS
>35years - mammogram
+/ biopsy of breast lump/nodes if signs of mets
Cholangiocarcinoma (malignancy of bile ducts with poor prognosis) risk factors
Primary sclerosing cholangitis
Flukes (in the East)
Congenital biliary cysts
Toxins (n-nitrosos)
ERCP and biopsy is diagnostic.
Neutropenic sepsis definition, signs + symptoms.
Low WCC count due to chemo/radiotherapy
Low neutrophil count
Pyrexia (>38oC)
Other signs/symptoms consistent with clinical sepsis
Neutropenic sepsis Ix
Bloods (FBC, U+Es, LFTs inc albumin, inflammatory markers, lactate)
Blood culture (identifies underlying cause of sepsis)
Urinalysis
Tumour lysis syndrome occurs in patients with cancer usually after starting cytotoxic treatment (but can happen spontaneously). It is characterised by excess death of tumour neoplastic cells. Metabolic and biochemical abnormalities are…
Hyperphosphataemia
Hyperuricaemia
Hyperkalaemia
Hypocalcaemia (since high serum phosphate binds to Ca2+)
Commonest CNS tumours
Glioblastoma Meningioma Craniopharyngioma Pituitary adenoma Haemangioblastoma Lymphoma mets
Colorectal carcinoma symptoms depend on location of the tumour. Consider the difference of presentations in:
L-sided colon and rectum (60%)
R-sided colon (20%)
L-sided colon and rectum: change in bowel habit, rectal bleeding, blood/mucous mixed with stools. Rectal masses = tenesmus.
R-sided colon: later presentation. FLAWS, lower abdo pain.
All may present with large bowel obs = pain and distension, peritonitis due to perforation. Mets = hepatomegaly and ascites.
Tumour marker for colorectal carcinoma
CEA
n.b. this lacks sensitivity and specificity to diagnose.
‘Apple core’ stricture on barium enema contrast studies suggests…
colorectal carcinoma
Prognosis of colorectal carcinoma depends on Dukes classification for staging. What are the stages?
A - Confined to bowel wall. 5yr survival (80%)
B - Through muscularis mucosa. -ve LN (60%)
C - Through muscularis mucosa. +ve LN (30%)
D - Distant mets. (<5%)
Gastric carcinoma cancers (mostly commonly adenocarcinoma) risk factors
H pylori infection Atrophic gastritis Diet Smoking Alcohol Pernicious anaemia
The following signs are related to which condition?
Virchow’s node/Troisier’s sign
Sister Mary Joseph node
Krukenberg’s tumour
Gastric carcinoma
Sister Mary Joseph node
Metastatic nodule on umbilicus from gastric carcinoma
Krukenberg’s tumour
Metastatic ovarian cancer from gastric or breast cancers
Histological types of NSCLC
Squamous cell carcinoma
Adenocarcinoma - peripherally
Large cell carcinoma
Adenosquamous carcinoma
Oat cell carcinoma is also known as
Small cell lung cancer
= malignant neoplasm of neuroendocrine Kulchitsky cells of lung with early dissemination. 20% of lung cancers. Usually in peri-hilar region.