Chap 19 - Oncology Textbook Flashcards
Benign
- slow growing
- encapsulated and noninvasive
- well-differentiated
- do not spread
Malignant
- rapidly multiplying
- invasive and infiltrative
- anaplastic and undifferentiated
- metastatic
cystic
Forming large open spaces filled with fluid. (ovarian)
fungating
Mushrooming pattern of growth in which tumor cells pile one on top of another and project from a tissue surface. (colon)
inflammatory
Having the features of inflammation—that is, redness, swelling, and heat. (breast)
medullary
Large, soft, fleshy tumors. (thyroid and breast)
necrotic
containing dead tissue; loss of blood supply
polypoid
Growths that form projections extending outward from a base. (colon)
ulcerating
Characterized by an open, exposed surface resulting from the death of overlying tissue. (stomach, breast, colon, skin)
verruous
Resembling a wart-like growth. (gum)
alveolar
Tumor cells form patterns resembling small sacs (muscle, bone, fat, cartilage)
carcinoma in situ
Referring to localized tumor cells that have not invaded adjacent structures.
diffuse
Spreading evenly throughout the affected tissue.
dysplastic
Containing abnormal-appearing cells that are not clearly cancerous.
epidermoid
Resembling squamous epithelial cells (thin, plate-like)
follicular
Forming small glandular sacs.
papillary
Forming small, finger-like or nipple-like projections of cells
pleomorphic
Composed of a variety of types of cells.
scirrhous
Densely packed (scirrhous means hard) tumors, due to dense bands of fibrous tissue. (breast, stomach)
undifferentiated
Lacking microscopic structures typical of normal mature cells.
cauterization
burning tissue to destroy it
core needle biopsy
small sample from center
cryosurgery
freezing
en bloc resection
resection of a large block of tumor and tissue (breast)
excisional biopsy
Removal and biopsy
exenteration
removal of the tumor, its organ of origin, and all surrounding tissue in the body space.
fine needle aspiration
fluid removal from lesion
fulguration
Destruction of tissue by electric sparks generated by a high-frequency current.
incisional biopsy
incision into a lesion or a specific part of a lesion
brachytherapy
Implantation of small, sealed containers or seeds of radioactive material directly into the tumor (interstitial therapy); or in a cavity of the tumor (intracavitary therapy, as in endometrial cancer).
electron beams
Low-energy beams for treatment of skin or surface tumors.
external beam irradiation (teletherapy)
Radiation therapy applied to a tumor from a distant source (linear accelerator).
fields
Dimensions of the size of radiation area used to treat a tumor from a specific angle.
fractionation
A method of dividing radiation into small, repeated doses rather than fewer large doses. Fractionation allows larger total doses to be given while causing less damage to normal tissue.
gray (Gy)
Unit of absorbed radiation dose.
linear accelerator
increases the velocity of subatomic particles
photon therapy
smallest unit of radiation therapy using x-rays or gamma rays. A linear accelerator produces photon beams to treat tumors.
proton therapy
uses protons, less damaging to other tissues
radiocurable tumor
Tumor that can be completely eradicated by radiation therapy. Usually, this is a localized tumor with no evidence of metastasis.
Lymphomas, Hodgkin disease, and seminomas of the testes are examples
radioresistant tumor
Tumor that requires large doses of radiation to produce death of the cells.
Melanoma and renal carcinoma are the most radioresistant.
radiosensitive tumor
Tumor in which irradiation can cause the death of cells without serious damage to surrounding tissue (morbidity).
Tumors of hematopoietic (blood-forming) and lymphatic origins are radiosensitive.
radiosensitizers
drugs that make cells more sensitive to radiation
simulation
Study prior to radiation therapy using CT scan and/or MRI to map treatment. Simulation is required for all patients undergoing RT.
stereotactic radiosurgery
Single large dose of radiation (Gamma Knife surgery) delivered from several different angles under stereotactic (highly precise) guidance to destroy a vascular abnormality (arteriovenous malformation, which is a tangle of blood vessels in the brain) or to treat small intracranial tumors
Alopecia
baldness
Fibrosis
increase in connective tissue in normal tissues
Infertility
inability to contribute to conception of a child
Mucositis
inflammation and ulceration of mucous membranes
Myelosuppression
bone marrow depression
Nausea and vomiting
as reaction to radiation therapy to the brain (vomiting center is located in the brainstem) or gastrointestinal tract (loss of epithelial lining tissue) Pneumonitis (inflammation of the lungs)
Secondary tumors
new types of tumors, originating at a site separate from the primary tumor
Xerostomia
dryness of the mouth
Alkylating agents
directly damage DNA to prevent the cancer cell from reproducing
Antibiotics
anti-tumor antibiotics that interfere with enzymes involved in DNA replication
Antimetabolites
are a class of drugs that interfere with DNA and RNA growth by substituting for the normal building blocks of RNA and DNA
Antimitotics
Mitotic inhibitors are often plant alkaloids and other compounds derived from natural products. They can stop mitosis or inhibit enzymes from making proteins needed for cell reproduction.
Hormonal agents
Drugs in this category are sex hormones, or hormone-like drugs, that change the action or production of female or male hormones
adjuvant therapy
Assisting primary treatment. Drugs are given early in the course of treatment, along with surgery or radiation to attack deposits of cancer cells that may be too small to be detected by diagnostic techniques.
alkylating agents
Synthetic chemicals containing alkyl groups that attack DNA, causing strand breaks.
anaplasia
Loss of differentiation of cells
angiogenesis
Process of forming new blood vessels
antibiotics
Chemical substances, produced by bacteria or primitive plants. They inhibit the growth of cells
antimetabolites
Chemicals that prevent cell division; inhibit formation of substances needed to make DNA
antimitotics
Drugs that block mitosis (cell division)
apoptosis
Programmed cell death
benign tumor
Noncancerous growth (neoplasm).
biological response modifiers
Produced by normal cells; directly block tumor growth or stimulate immune system to fight cancer
biological therapy
Use of the body’s own defenses to destroy tumor cells.
brachytherapy
Use of radiation placed directly on or within the cancer
carcinogens
Agents that cause cancer
carcinoma
Cancerous tumor made up of cells of epithelial origin. (90%)
cellular oncogenes
Pieces of DNA that, when activated by mutations or by dislocation, can cause a normal cell to become malignant.
chemotherapy
Treatment with drugs
combination chemotherapy
Use of several chemotherapeutic agents together for the treatment of tumors.
dedifferentiation
Loss of differentiation of cells
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
Genetic material within the nucleus of a cell; controls cell division and protein synthesis.
differentiating agents
Drugs that promote tumor cells to differentiate, stop growing, and die.
differentiation
Specialization of cells.
electron beams
Low-energy beams of radiation for treatment of skin or surface tumors.
encapsulated
Surrounded by a capsule; benign tumors are encapsulated.
external beam irradiation
Applying radiation to a tumor from a source outside the body.
fields
Dimensions of the area of the body undergoing irradiation.
fractionation
Giving radiation in small, repeated doses.
genetic screening
Family members are tested to determine whether they have inherited a cancer-causing gene.
grading of tumors
Evaluating the degree of maturity of tumor cells or differentiation
gray (Gy)
Unit of absorbed radiation dose.
gross description of tumors
Visual appearance of tumors to the naked eye
infiltrative
Extending beyond normal tissue boundaries into adjacent tissues.
invasive
Having the ability to enter and destroy surrounding tissue.
irradiation
Exposure to any form of radiant energy such as light, heat, or x-rays.
linear accelerator
Large electronic device that produces high-energy x-ray beams for treatment of deep-seated tumors.
malignant tumor
Tumor having the characteristics of continuous growth, invasiveness, and metastasis.
mesenchymal
Embryonic connective tissue
metastasis
Spread of a malignant tumor to a secondary site
microscopic description of
tumors
Appearance of tumors when viewed under a microscope
mitosis
Replication of cells
mixed-tissue tumors
Tumors composed of different types of tissue
modality
Method of treatment, such as surgery, chemotherapy, or irradiation.
molecularly targeted drugs
Anticancer drugs designed to block the function of growth factors, their receptors, and signaling pathways in specific tumor cells.
morbidity
Condition of being unwell or deficient in normal function.
mucinous
Containing mucus.
mutation
Change in the genetic material (DNA) of a cell; may be caused by chemicals, radiation, or viruses or may occur spontaneously.
neoplasm
New growth; benign or malignant tumor.
nucleotide
Unit of DNA (gene) composed of a sugar, phosphate, and a base.
oncogene
Region of DNA in tumor cells or in viruses that cause cancer
palliative
Relieving but not curing symptoms.
pedunculated
Possessing a stem or stalk
photon therapy
Subatomic positively charged particles (protons) produced by a cyclotron deposit a dose of radiation at a tightly focused point in the body.
radiation
Energy carried by a stream of particles.
radiocurable tumor
Tumor that is destroyed by radiation therapy.
radioresistant tumor
Tumor that requires large doses of radiation to be destroyed.
radiosensitive tumor
Tumor in which radiation can cause the death of cells without serious damage to surrounding tissue.
radiosensitizers
Drugs that increase the sensitivity of tumors to x-rays.
radiotherapy
Treatment of tumors using doses of radiation; radiation oncology.
relapse
Recurrence of tumor after treatment.
remission
Partial or complete disappearance of symptoms of disease.
ribonucleic acid (RNA)
Cellular substance that represents a copy of DNA and directs the formation of new protein inside cells.
sarcoma
Cancerous tumor derived from connective or flesh tissue. (5%)
serous
Having the appearance of a thin, watery fluid (serum).
sessile
Having no stem; characteristic of some polypoid tumors.
simulation
Study using CT scan or MRI to map treatment before with
radiotherapy is given.
solid tumor
Tumor composed of a mass of cells.
staging of tumors
extent of spread in the body
stereotactic radiosurgery
Delivery of dose of radiation under stereotactic (highly precise) guidance (Gamma Knife surgery)
steroids
Complex, naturally occurring chemicals derived from cholesterol. Some are used in cancer chemotherapy.
surgical procedures to treat cancer
Methods of removing cancerous tissue: cryosurgery, cauterization, en bloc resection, excisional biopsy, exenteration, fulguration, incisional biopsy.
viral oncogenes
Pieces of DNA from viruses that infect a normal cell and cause it to become malignant.
virus
Infectious agent that reproduces by entering a host cell and using the host’s genetic material to make copies of itself.
alveol/o
small sac
cac/o
bad
carcin/o
cancer, cancerous
cauter/o
burn, heat
chem/o
chemical, drug
cry/o
cold
cyst/o
sac of cluid
fibr/o
fibers
follicul/o
small glandular sacs
fung/i
fungus, mushroom
medull/o
soft, inner part
mucos/o
mucous membrane
mut/a
genetic change
mutagen/o
causing genetic change
necr/o
death
neur/o
nerve
onc/o
tumor
papill/o
nipple-like
plas/o
formation
ple/o
many, more
polyp/o
polyp
prot/o
first
radi/o
rays
sarc/o
flesh, connective tissue
scirrh/o
hard
xer/o
dry
-blastoma
immature tumor
-genesis
formation
-oma
mass, tumor
-plasia
formation, growth
-suppression
to stop
-therapy
treatment
ana-
backward
apo-
off, away
brachy-
short (distance)
epi-
upon
meta-
beyond; change
tele-
far
cytogenetic analysis
Chromosomes of normal or tumor cells are examined for breaks, translocations, or deletions of DNA.
immunohistochemistry
Localizing antigens or proteins in tissues using labeled (colored or fluorescent) antibodies.
protein marker tests
Measure the level of proteins in the blood or on the surface of tumor cells.
bone marrow biopsy
Aspiration of bone marrow tissue and examination under a microscope for evidence of malignant cells.
bone marrow or stem cell transplantation
Bone marrow or stem cells are infused intravenously into a patient.
autologous marrow transplantation
marrow previously obtained from the patient and stored is reinfused when needed
allogeneic marrow transplantation
marrow is obtained from a living donor other than the recipient.
peripheral blood stem cell transplantation
immature blood cells called stem cells are selected and harvested from the blood of a patient instead of from the
bone marrow. After undergoing chemotherapy, the patient gets a reinfusion of the stem cells to repopulate the bone marrow with blood cells.
core needle biopsy
Insertion of a large-bore needle into tissue to remove a core of cells for microscopic examination.
exfoliative cytology
Cells are scraped from the region of suspected disease and examined under a microscope
fiberoptic colonoscopy
Visual examination of the colon using a fiberoptic instrument.
laparoscopy
Visual examination of the abdominal cavity using small incisions and a laparoscope. Also known as peritoneoscopy
mammography
X-ray examination of the breast to detect breast cancer.
PET/CT scan
Diagnostic procedure combining CT (computed tomography) and PET (positron emission tomography).
radionuclide scans
Radioactive substances (radionuclides) are injected intravenously, and scans (images) of organs are obtained.
most common in women
lung, breast, colon
most common in men
lung, colon, prostate
Carcinogenesis
transformation of a normal cell to a cancerous one
- DNA fx
- mitosis
- protein synthesis
- nucleotides
- genes
- mutation
Carinogenesis
•Environmental agents
- chem carcinogens
- radiation
- viruses (RNA, DNA)
- oncogenes
Cancers that are heredity
Retinoblastoma, polyposis coli, Wilm’s tumors, Ewing’s sarcomas
Lung Carcinomas
- adenocarcinoma (bronchioloalveolar)
- large cell carcinoma
- small cell carcinoma
- squamous cell (epidermoid)
Reproductive organs Carcinomas
- adenocarcinoma (uterus)
- carcinoma of the penis
- choriocarcinoma (uterus, testes)
- cystadenocarcinoma (ovaries)
- seminoma, embryonal cell carcinoma (testes)
- squamous cell (epidermoid) carcinoma (vagina, cervix)
Skin Carcinomas
- basal cell carcinoma
- malignant melanoma
- squamous cell carcinoma
bone
- osteosarcoma
- Ewing sarcoma
muscle
- leiomyosarcoma (smooth)
- rhabdomyosarcoma (striated)
cartilage
chondrosarcoma
fat
liposarcoma
fibrous tissue
fibrosarcoma
Tis
carcinoma in situ
Tx
positive malignant cytologic findings, no lesion observed
T1
tumor
T2
tumor > 3 cm diameter or assoc atelectasis-obstructive pneumopathy
T3
Tumor with direct extension into the chest wall, diaphragm, mediastinum, pleura, or pericardium
T4
Tumor invades the mediastinum or presence of a malignant pleural effusion
protocol
detailed plan for treatment of an illness
Cancer
Characterized by unrestrained and excessive growth of cells
Debulking procedure
May be used to remove as much of primary tumor mass as possible
Adjuvant (assisting)
Radiation therapy and/or chemo: after removal of primary tumor to prevent recurrence at distant sites
leiomyosarcoma
smooth muscle sarcoma
adenocarcinomas
cancerous (malignant) tumor of
glandular tissue
