Cellular pathology of cancer

Question 1

MIDGE

Answer 1

M=metastasis
I=invasion
D=degree of differentiation
G=growth rate
E=encapsulation

Question 2

Leukaemia

Answer 2

Malignant tumour of bone marrow derived cells which circulate in the blood

Question 3

Lymphoma

Answer 3

Malignant tumour of lymphocytes usually in lymph nodes

Question 4

Teratoma

Answer 4

Tumour derived from germ cells, with the potential to develop into tumours of all three germ cell layers (ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm)

• Gonadal teratomas are always malignant in males
• Most gonadal teratomas in females are benign

Question 5

Features of dysplasia

Answer 5

• loss of uniformity of individual cells
• loss of architectural orientation
• nuclei=enlarged (increased nuclei:cytoplasmic ratio), hyperchromatic and irregular
• mitosis=abundant, abnormal, in places where not usually found

Question 6

Common sites of dysplasia

Answer 6

• cervix (HPV infection)
• bronchus and larynx (smoking)
• colon (ulcerative colitis)
• stomach (pernicious anaemia)
• oesophagus (acid reflux)

Question 7

Benign tumour features

Answer 7

M=do not metastasise (fixed to local tissue)
I=do not invade
D=well differentiated (identifiable tissue of origin)
G=slow growth
E=encapsulated
NORMAL MITOSIS

Question 8

Malignant tumour features

Answer 8

M=metastasise to distant sites 
I=invade surrounding tissues
D=well to poorly differentiated
G=rapid growth
E=no capsule
ABNORMAL MITOSIS

Question 9

Dysplasia

Answer 9

An abnormal pattern of growth in which some of the cellular and architectural features of malignancy are present

• pre invasive stage with an intact basement membrane (NOT CANCER UNTIL INVASIVE)
• target for screening programmes

Question 10

Hamartoma

Answer 10

Localised overgrowth of cells and tissues native to the organ

• mature architecturally abnormal cells
• common in children and should stop growing when the child stops growing
• eg: bile duct hamartoma

Question 11

Malignancy

Answer 11

An abnormal, autonomous proliferation of cells, unresponsive to normal growth control mechanisms

Question 12

Tumour

Answer 12

Swelling which protrudes (includes inflammation or benign nasal polyps)

Question 13

Metaplasia

Answer 13

A reversible change in one adult cell type (usually epithelial) is replaced by another adult cell type

Question 14

Benign tumours are not often fatal unless:

Answer 14

• in a dangerous place (meninges, pituitary)
• secretes something dangerous (e.g: insulinoma)
• gets infected
• bleeds
• ruptures
• torts (twisted)

Question 15

Metastasis

Answer 15

Discontinuous growing colony of tumour cells, at some distance from the primary cancer

• dependent on the lymphatic and vascular drainage of the primary site
• lymph node involvement has a worse prognosis

Question 16

Benign epithelial tumours

Answer 16

• of surface epithelium=PAPILLOMA

- of glandular epithelium=ADENOMA

Question 17

Carcinoma

Answer 17

-A malignant tumour derived from epithelium
Includes:
-squamous cell
-adenocarcinoma
-transitional cell
-basal cell carcinoma

Question 18

Benign soft tissue tumours

Answer 18

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Question 19

Sarcoma

Answer 19

A malignant tumour derived from connective