Cancer Flashcards
What is a tumour
Mass forming lesion, either hamartomatous or inflammatory
Define hamartomatous
Cell growth which is benign, containing different cell types
Define neoplasm
Autonomous growth of tissue which escapes cell proliferation constraints
What is the difference between a benign and malignant neoplasm?
Benign - localised
Malignant - Invade locally / spread
What is a heterotopia?
Normal tissue growing in places not expected - (pancreatic in large intestine)
How are benign and malignant tumours classified?
The suffix -oma indicates a benign tumour.
The suffix -sarcoma indicates malignancy.
What is a teratoma
A tumour derived from germ cells, with tissue from all three germ cell layers.
Give examples of malignant tumours with the suffix -oma
Lymphoma, melanoma
How do you differentiate between benign and malignant tumours?
Invasion - extension into connective tissue/other structures
Metastasis - spread via blood vessels
Differentiation - how much the tumour cells resemble original cells
Growth pattern - architecture similarities and speed
How do the above factors vary?
Invasion - B rare to invade; M infiltrative
Metastasis - B don’t metastasise; M do
Differentiation - B are well differentiated; M lack this, are anaplastic - large nuclei, varied shape and loss of normal features
Growth pattern - B slow growth; M rapid
How do tumours spread?
Direct extension - fibroblast proliferation Haematogenously - via blood Lymphatic - lymph nodes Transcoelomic - body cavities Perineural - nerves
How is tumour spread assessed?
Clinically
Radiologically
Pathologically
How is tumour spread described?
T - tumour size, extent of invasion
N - number of lymph Nodes involved
M - presence of Metastases
Grade - how differentiated it is
Stage - above, more imp for prognosis
