Characteristics of beign and malignant cells

Question 1

Term that means ‘lacks differentiation’ and considered as hallmark of malignancy

Answer 1

Anaplasia

Question 2

Benign or malignant? Localized

Answer 2

Benign

Question 3

Benign or malignant? Amenable to surgical removal

Answer 3

Benign

Question 4

Benign or malignant? Invades and destroys adjacent tissues

Answer 4

Malignant

Question 5

Benign neoplasms usually end with –oma, except:

Answer 5

• Lymphoma
• Seminoma
• Dysgerminoma
• Hepatoma
• Melanoma
• Note:*
• These are malignant neoplasms

Question 6

Extent to which neoplastic cells resemble their normal forebears morphologically and functionally

Answer 6

Differentiation

Question 7

Disorderly but non-neoplastic proliferation of cells

Answer 7

Dysplasia

Question 8

Fibrous tissue formation in response to neoplasm

Answer 8

Desmoplasia

Question 9

Dysplastic changes that involve the entire thickness of the epithelium, without violation of the basement membrane

Answer 9

Carcinoma in situ

Question 10

More than any other attribute, this identifies a neoplasm as malignant

Answer 10

Metastasis

Question 11

Next to metastasis, this is the most reliable feature that distinguishes malignant from benign tumors

Answer 11

Local invasiveness

Question 12

T/F. Dysplasia always progress to cancer

Answer 12

False

Question 13

T/F. Lack of capsule in a neoplastic growth indicates malignancy

Answer 13

False; some benign tumors are not encapsulated

Question 14

Methods of dissemination of malignant neoplasms

Answer 14

• Seeding
• Lymphatic spread
• Hematogenous spread

Question 15

This is the mode of dissemination of cancers of the ovary and CNS

Answer 15

Spread by seeding

Question 16

This is the mode of dissemination more typical of carcinomas

Answer 16

Lymphatic spread

Question 17

This is the mode of dissemination more typical of sarcomas

Answer 17

Hematogenous spread

• Memory aid:*
• sHarcoma

Question 18

What are the most common sites of metastasis involved in hematogenous dissemination of cancer?

Answer 18

Liver and lungs

Question 19

Most tumors tend to metastasize via the lymphatics or blood vessels. Which among these deviate from the more common pattern of spread and metastasize over the surface of viscera or body cavities?

1. Colon CA
2. Gastric CA
3. Mesothelioma
4. Hepatoblastoma

Answer 19

Answer: C

• Mesothelioma

Rationale:

• Pattern of spread for mesothelioma is distinctive, it can even be diagnosed radiologically by a thick rind of tumor tissue it characteristically produces over the surface of involved lung