Chapter 19: Cancer Medicine (Oncology): Pathologic Descriptions and Treatment

Question 1

cystic

Answer 1

Forming large open spaces filled with fluid

Question 2

mucinous tumors

Answer 2

Filled with mucus (thick, sticky fluid)

Question 3

serous tumors

Answer 3

Filled with a thin, watery fluid resembling serum

Question 4

fungating

Answer 4

Mushrooming pattern of growth in which tumor cells pile one on top of another and project from a tissue surface

Question 5

inflammatory

Answer 5

Having the features of inflammation (redness, swelling, heat)

Question 6

medullary

Answer 6

Large, soft, fleshy tumors

Question 7

necrotic

Answer 7

Containing dead tissue

Question 8

polypoid

Answer 8

Growths that form projections extending outward from a base

Question 9

ulcerating

Answer 9

Characterized by an open, exposed surface resulting from the death of overlying tissue

Question 10

verrucous

Answer 10

Resembling a wart-like growth

Question 11

alveolar

Answer 11

Tumor cells form patterns resembling small sacs

Question 12

carcinoma in situ

Answer 12

Referring to localized tumor cells that have not invaded adjacent structures

Question 13

diffuse

Answer 13

Spreading evenly throughout the affected tissue

Question 14

dysplastic

Answer 14

Containing abnormal-appearing cells that are not clearly cancerous

Question 15

epidermoid

Answer 15

Resembling squamous epithelial cells (thin, plate-like)

Question 16

follicular

Answer 16

Forming small glanular sacs

Question 17

papillary

Answer 17

Forming small, finger-like or nipple-like projections of cells

Question 18

pleomorphic

Answer 18

Composed of a variety of types of cells

Question 19

scirrhous

Answer 19

Densely packed tumors, due to dense bands of fibrous tissue

Question 20

undifferentiated

Answer 20

Lacking microscopic structures typical of normal mature cells

Question 21

cauterization

Answer 21

Destruction of tissue by burning

Question 22

core needle biopsy

Answer 22

Placement of a large-bore needle that extracts a thin core of tissue

Question 23

cryosurgery

Answer 23

Use of subfreezing temperature to destroy tissue

Question 24

en bloc resection

Answer 24

Tumor is removed along with a large area of surrounding tissue containing lymph nodes

Question 25

excisional therapy

Answer 25

Removal of a tumor and a margin of normal tissue. This procedure provides a specimen for diagnosis and may be curative for small noninvasive tumors

Question 26

exenteration

Answer 26

Wide resection involving removal of the tumor, its organ of origin, and all surrounding tissue in the body space

Question 27

fine needle aspiration

Answer 27

Placement of a very thin needle inside the tumor mass and extracting cells for microscopic evaluation

Question 28

fulguration

Answer 28

Destruction of tissue by electric sparks generated by a high-frequency current

Question 29

incisional biopsy

Answer 29

Piece of tumor is removed for examination to establish a diagnosis

Question 30

irradiation

Answer 30

Exposure of tissue to radiation

Question 31

brachytherapy

Answer 31

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)

Question 32

electron beams

Answer 32

Low-energy beams for treatment of skin or surface tumors

Question 33

external beam irradiation

Answer 33

Radiation therapy applied to a tumor from a distance source (linear accelerator)

Question 34

fields

Answer 34

Dimensions of the size of radiation area used to treat a tumor from a specific angle

Question 35

fractionation

Answer 35

A method of dividing radiation into small, repeated doses rather than fewer large doses. Fractionation allowed larger total doses to be given while causing less damage to normal tissue

Question 36

gray (Gy)

Answer 36

Unit of absorbed radiation dose

Question 37

linear accelerator

Answer 37

Large electronic device that produces high-energy x-ray (or photon) beams for the treatment of deep-seated tumors

Question 38

photon therapy

Answer 38

Radiation therapy using x-rays or gamma rays to treat tumors

Question 39

proton therapy

Answer 39

Small subatomic positively charged particles (protons) produced by a cyclotron deposit all the energy at a focused finite point. This reduces the dose affecting normal surrounding tissues by at least 50%

Question 40

radiocurable tumor

Answer 40

Tumor that be completely eradicated by radiation therapy. Usually, this is a localized tumor with no evidence of metastasis

Question 41

radioresistant tumor

Answer 41

Tumor that requires large doses of radiation to produce death of the cells

Question 42

radiosensitive tumor

Answer 42

Tumor in which irradiation can cause the death of cells without serious damage to surrounding tissue (morbidity)

Question 43

radiosensitizers

Answer 43

Drugs that increase the sensitivity of tumors to x-rays

Question 44

simulation

Answer 44

An imaging study performed before radiation therapy using CT scan and/or MRI to map the area to receive treatment. Simulation is required for all patients undergoing radiotherapy

Question 45

stereotactic radiosurgery

Answer 45

Single large dose of radiation is delivered under precise 3D guidance (stereotactic) from multiple angles to destroy vascular abnormalities and small brain tumors