Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

PPS - cancer > Cellular pathology of cancer > Flashcards

Cellular pathology of cancer Flashcards

1
Q

What is the first thing that happens to a tissue once it has been biopsied?

A

Stored in a pot of formalin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What size are tissue samples normally?

A

Very small

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

How long do the results of a histopathology investigation take?

A

48 hours

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What should be done whilst waiting for the results of the histopathologist?

A

Imaging should be organised for the patient to assess the spread of the cancer

Most commonly = CT scan

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What type of system is used to send histopathology requests by the departments?

A

Computerised system

Send histopathology requests including patient and clinical details

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What are the steps of tissue preparation for histopathology labs?

A 
Tissue fixation 
Sample preparation 
Emedding 
Slicing 
Mounting 
Melting 
Staining
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Describe tissue fixation

A

The most common fixing agent is formaldehyde

Used as a 10% neutral formalin solution

This stabilises and preserves the tissue by cross-linking proteins, primarily the residues of the basic amino acid lysine

This anchors soluble proteins to the cytoskeleton and stabilises the tissue

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Describe sample preparation

A

The biopsy is delivered to the histopathology laboratory by a porter

Sample is received at the Histopathology reception, logged in the system and allocated a unique barcode

The biopsy is placed in a plastic cassette for the embedding process

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Describe the embedding process

A

Around 100 cassettes can be loaded in a metal cage

Loaded into an automated sample processing machine

Samples sit in a chamber overnight

Dehydration protocol

Followed by xylene

Prepared samples are placed into small metal moulds which are filled with more wax and then cooled to speed up solidification

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is xylene?

A

Hydrocarbon solvent

Replaces the alcohol in the tissue and allows the final bat of paraffin wax to infiltrate (58 degrees)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is the dehydration protocol?

A

Soaking in a series of liquids starting with graded ethanol baths

Remove water from the tissues

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Describe the process of slicing

A

3 micron thick section are made from the paraffin-embedded tissue sample block

Using a microtome

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Describe the process of mounting

A

3 micron ribbons of wax-embedded tissue

Straightened out in a warm water bath

Mounted onto glass microscope slides

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Describe the process of melting

A

The slides are put on a hot-plate to melt the wax

Leaves the tissue sample attached to the side

Dissolve the wax with xylene, then rinse with water

This allows the aqueous dyes to penetrate the tissue

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Describe the process of staining

A

Automatically conducted by a machine

Stain needed as most cell components are colourless

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What are the two common stains often used in biology?

A

Haematoxylin

Eosin

17
Q

What are the features of Eosin?

A

Acidic dye

Negatively charged

Stains basic structures red or pink

As most cytoplasmic structures are basic = stains pink

Eosin binds to the positively charged residues

18
Q

Why are most cytoplasmic structures basic?

A

Most proteins in the cytoplasm are positively charged due to arginine and lysine amino acid residues

19
Q

What are the features of Haematoxylin?

A

Basic dye

Positively charged

Stains acidic structures purple-blue

20
Q

What cellular components does Haematoxylin bind to?

A

DNA - acidic

RNA ribosomes

RER

21
Q

What is the role of cellular pathologists?

A

Cellular pathologists interpret the appearance of the cells and tissues

22
Q

What are the two factors by which we classify tumours?

A

Stage the tumour

Grade the tumour

23
Q

Which specialist stage the tumour?

A

Multiple specialists

24
Q

Which specialists grade the tumour?

A

Can only be done by cellular pathologists

25
Q

What is staging cancer?

A

Way of describing the size of a cancer and how far it has grown

Can check to see whether it has spread to another part of the body

26
Q

What is grading cancer?

A

How far it deviates from the normal non-cancerous tissue around it

The grade of a cancer depends on what the cell looks like under a microscope

Lower grade generally indicates slower-growing cancer

27
Q

What are the descriptions of the grade of a cancer?

A

Well-differentiated

Moderately differentiated

Poorly differentiated

28
Q

What is a well-differentiated cancer?

A

Cells look similar to the normal tissue around it

29
Q

What is a poorly differentiated cancer?

A

Cells look different to the normal tissue around it

Aggressive

30
Q

What is hyperplasia?

A

Increase in cell number

A reversible process which may be caused by hormonal stimulation or loss of cells

31
Q

What is metaplasia?

A

Replacement of one differentiated adult cell type by another differentiated adult cell type

Potentially reversible

May predispose to the development of neoplasia (irreversible)

32
Q

What is neoplasia?

A

New growth

Results in an irreversible abnormal mass of tissue which exceeds and is uncoordinated with the normal growth of that tissue

It persists even in the absence of growth stimuli

33
Q

What are the two types of neoplasm?

A

Benign - colorectal adenoma

Malignant - colon adenocarcinoma

34
Q

What does grade describe?

A

How closely a neoplasm resembles the normal tissue it is derived from

Refers to the level of cellular differentiation

35
Q

What are the layers of the gut?

A

Serosa (epithelium + areolar connective tissue)

Muscularis (Longitudonal muscle + circular muscle)

Submucosa

Mucosa (epithelium + lamina propia + muscularis mucosae)

PPS - cancer (6 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions