Cancer Classification

Question 1

4 main types of cancers

Answer 1

Epithelial
Mesenchymal
Haemotological
Neuroectoderm - Melanocytes and glial cells of CNS

Question 2

Epithelial tumours points (2)

Answer 2

Occurs on epithelia line on internal and external body surfaces
Defined by resting on a basement membrane

Question 3

Skin epithelium type

Answer 3

Keratinised squamous epithelium with adnexal structures

Question 4

Internal epithelium type - Mouth, cervix, vagina, oesophagus

Answer 4

Non keratinised squamous epithelium

Question 5

Ciliated epithelium type

Answer 5

Pseudostratified columnar epithelium

Question 6

Epithelial malignancy key points (3)

Answer 6

Specific term is CARCINOMA
The older the person the higher the risk - Rare in children
Associated with long term environmental risk factors accumulation

Question 7

Common epithelial malignancy types and routes (4)

Answer 7

Lung metastases to bone, brain, adrenal glands, liver
Breast similar to lung
GI malignancies to liver (Other sites are rare)
Prostate can be ANYWHERE

Question 8

Mesenchymal tumours key points (4)

Answer 8

Specific term is SARCOMA
Involves connective tissues everywhere
Relatively rare - But more common in children compared to epithelial tumours
Local growth is defining feature

Question 9

Tumour terms for smooth muscle (2)

Answer 9

Leiomyoma

Sarcoma

Question 10

Tumour terms for skeletal muscle (2)

Answer 10

Rhabdomyoma

Sarcoma

Question 11

Tumour terms for fat (2)

Answer 11

Lipoma

Liposarcoma

Question 12

Tumour terms for bone (2)

Answer 12

Osteoma

Osteosarcoma

Question 13

Tumour terms for cartilage (2)

Answer 13

Chondroma

Chondrosarcoma

Question 14

Tumour terms for blood vessels (2)

Answer 14

Haemangioma

Angiosarcoma

Question 15

Tumour terms for nerves (2)

Answer 15

Neuroma

MPNST - malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour

Question 16

Mesenchymal tumours spread (2)

Answer 16

Lymphatic spread is rare

Haemotogenous spread is later feature

Question 17

Mesenchymal tumours morphology (2)

Answer 17

Spindle cell lesions - Elongated tapered shaped and solid

Closely linked to age, sex, anatomical relationships, genetic translocation

Question 18

Haemotological malignancy types and what cells are involved (2)

Answer 18

Myeloid - Red cells, platelets, granulocytes

Lymphoid - B and T cells

Question 19

Haemotological malignancy key point

Answer 19

Don’ t metastasise as the whole body is involved - Example is lymphoma (Tumour like masses in lymph nodes)

Question 20

Haemotological malignancy indications (5)

Answer 20

Large lymph nodes across areas that don’t fit with anatomical drainage of an epithelial malignancy
May involve liver and spleen diffusely - Organomegaly
Symptoms are from bone marrow involvement - Anaemia, bleedings, infections
FBC is crucial - High indicates abnormal cells while low indicates marrow involvement
Involves B-symptoms - Night sweats, weight loss

Question 21

Haemotological malignancy morphology (3)

Answer 21

Solid white masses
Resemble cell of origin under microscope - Small round blue cells
Look monotonous and clonal rather than pleomorphic

Question 22

Neuroectoderm tumours types (3)

Answer 22

Melanoma is most common
Gilomas (Brain tumours) are rare
Lesions in brain are normally metastasis

Question 23

Brain tumour key points (3)

Answer 23

Primary brain cancers stay within brain (no metastases) - Lymphatics or otherwise
Not denoted as benign, malignant or premalignant
Recognized as spectrum - Grade 1 to 3