Disorders of Growth, including Neoplasia

Question 1

Definition of Neoplasm/Neoplasia?

Answer 1

New growth, that exceeds normal level and in uncoorrdinated, resulting in an abnormal mass of tissue. The growth will persist even after the stimuli has been removed.

Question 2

What is the word ‘neoplasm’ synonymous with?

Answer 2

Tumour

Question 3

What is the common term for malignant tumours?

Answer 3

Cancer

Question 4

What is oncology the study of?

Answer 4

Tumours

Question 5

What are the 6 different features of a tumour?

Answer 5

1) Macroscopically - Benign or Malignant?
2) Microscopically - What does it appear as to the naked eye?
3) Histology - What does the tissue resemble?
4) Histogenesis - What is its origin?
5) Aetiology - Env vs. Inherited
6) Function

Question 6

What are the 2 basic components that make up the structure of tumours and describe?

Answer 6

1) Parenchyma - proliferative neoplastic cells

2) Stroma - (supportive layer) consists of connective tissue and BV’s

Question 7

Discuss how benign and malignant tumours can be compared in 3 ways?

Answer 7

1) Grows by:
Benign - expands and displaces local tissue
Malignant - invades and destroys local tissue
2) Behaviour:
Benign - innocent
Malignant - aggressive
3) Spread:
Benign - does not tend to spread
Malignant - has the capacity to spread (metastasis)

Question 8

What is the definition of metastasis?

Answer 8

The growth of a secondary tumour at a site distant from the primary tumour

Question 9

How do metastasis travel and where do they go to?

Answer 9

They travel via the blood or in the lymphatic system.
They will travel to:
1) Body cavities (i.e. peritoneal)
2) Epilthelium-line spaces
3) Within epithelium itself

Question 10

What is the typical root for a stroma malignancy?

Answer 10

Will either directly invade he BV’s or the tumour emboli will filter through the capillary beds

Question 11

What is the typical root for a epithelial malignancy?

Answer 11

Will either directly invade the lymphatic vessels or the tumour emboli will filter through the lymph nodes

Question 12

Definition of a Polyp?

Answer 12

A mass attached to a surface and may or may not be neoplasmic/a tumour

Question 13

Give 3 examples and define typical BENIGN epithelial tumours?

Answer 13

Adenoma = produce glandular patterns
Cystadenoma = produce cystic masses
Papilloma = produce finger-like projections

Question 14

Give 1 example and define a typical MALIGNANT epithelial tumour?

Answer 14

Carcinoma = a malignant tumour of the epithelial tissue

Question 15

Give 1 example and define a typical MALIGNANT stromal tumour?

Answer 15

Sarcoma = a malignant tumour of stromal tissue

Question 16

Define Leukaeima:

Answer 16

Neoplastic proliferation of haematopoietic stem cells and is regarded as malignant

Question 17

Define Lymphoma:

Answer 17

Neoplastic proliferation of lymphatic tissue and is regarded as malignant

Question 18

What are the 2 types of lymphoma:

Answer 18

1) Hodkin’s Lymphoma: consists of many cell types

2) Non-Hodkin’s Lymphoma: less of a mixture of cells

Question 19

Define a Teratoma tumour:

Answer 19

A mixed cell tumour. It can either be benign or malignant

Question 20

What are premalignant conditions?

Answer 20

Increase the risk of developing a malignant tumour

Question 21

What are the 4 NON-NEOPLASTIC pre-malignant conditions?

Answer 21

1) Chronic inflammation
2) Chronic ulcerative colitis
3) Cirrhosis of the liver
4) Xeroderma pigmentosum (carcinoma of the skin)

Question 22

What are the 2 NEOPLASTIC pre-malignant conditions?

Answer 22

1) Familal polyposis coli (genetic condition)

2) Intra-epithelial neoplasia

Question 23

Define tumour grading and which type of tumours is grading used to assess?

Answer 23

Tumour grading is an assessment on what the tumour looks like in terms of their degree of differentiation (i.e. Histologically - do they resemble the rest of the tissue). Tumour grading is used to assess MALIGNANT tumours only

Question 24

What are the 4 disadvantages for tumour grading?

Answer 24

1) Subjective
2) Only a prediction
3) One area of the tumour can differ to the next area
4) Poor reproduciblity

Question 25

Define tumour staging

Answer 25

Assesses how far the tumour has spread

Question 26

What system is used to assess tumour staging

Answer 26

TNM system

Question 27

Explain the stages involving in the TNM system

Answer 27

T - Type of tumour
N - Is there any lymph node involvement?
M - Is there any distant metastasis?

Question 28

What advantages does Tumour staging have over Tumour grading?

Answer 28

Tumour staging allows for a better prediction of the outcome for the patient compared to Tumour Grading

Question 29

What are the 3 casual effects that both of the tumours have in common?

Answer 29

1) Displacement or destruction of the surrounding structures
2) Excess normal function of the tissue
3) Paraneoplasmic phenomena

Question 30

What are the 6 specific causal effects of the malignant tumours?

Answer 30

1) Tissue destruction
2) Heamorrhage
3) Secondary bacterial infection
4) Cachexia = severe weight loss and increased metabolic rate
5) Pain
6) Anaemia

Question 31

Define the Paraneoplastic phenomena:

Answer 31

It is a syndrome that is tumour-associated, but the symptoms are not related to the spread of the tumour or to the hormones produced within the tumour tissue