Cellular Pathology Of Cancer Flashcards
Define metaplasia
A reversible change in which one adult cell type is replaced by another adult cell type
What cell type is usually metaplastic?
Epithelial
State some features of cancer which can be seen in dysplasia
Large and hyperchromatic nuclei Increase mitoses Absent mitoses Increased nuclei-cytoplasmic ratio Loss of architectural orientation Loss of uniformity of individual cells.
What is dysplasia?
An abnormal pattern of growth in which some of the cellular and architectural features of malignancy are present.
Is dysplasia invasive?
No
What is the basement membrane of dysplasic tissues like?
Still intact
What are the two different types of benign epithelial tumour?
Papillomas and adenomas
Which diseases are dysplasia common in?
Cervix - HPV infection Bronchus - smoking Colon - ulcerative colitis Larynx - smoking Stomach - pernicious anaemia Oesophagus - acid reflux
Differences between low grade and high grade dysplasia
They both show changes of dysplasia but the changes are more severe in high-grade dysplasia
High-grade has a high risk of progression to cancer
What are neoplasias?
An abnormal, autonomous proliferation of cells unresponsive to normal growth control mechanisms
What are the differences between benign and malignant tumours?
benign tumours:
- do not invade, do not metastasise
- encapsulated
- usually well differentiated
- slowly growing
- normal mitoses
When are tumours fatal?
- in a dangerous place - meninges, pituitary
- secretes something dangerous - insulinoma
- gets infected - bladder
- bleeds - stomach
- ruptures - liver adenoma
- torts (gets twisted) - ovarian cyst
When is a tumour malignant?
- Invade surrounding tissues
- Spread to distant sites
- No capsule
- Well to poorly differentiated
- Rapidly growing
- Abnormal mitoses
What is a metastasis?
A discontinuous growing colony of tumour cells, at some distance from the primary cancer
What do metastases depend on?
The lymphatic and vascular drainage of the primary site
What does lymph node involvement in metastases usually mean?
Poorer prognosis
What are well differentiated tumours characterised by?
- a small number of mitoses
- lack of nuclear pleomorphism
- a high nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio
- relatively uniform nuclei
- close resemblance to the corresponding normal tissue
What are papillomas
Benign epithelial tumours of surface epithelium.
What are adenomas
Benign epithelial tumours of glandular epithelium
What are carcinomas
A malignant tumour derived from epithelium
What are benign soft tissue tumours?
Benign tumours within and between muscles, ligaments, nerves, and blood vessels.
What are sarcomas
A malignant tumour derived from connective tissue (mesenchymal cells)
What are sarcomas of fat called?
Liposarcoma
What are sarcomas of bone called?
Osteosarcoma
