Exam #4: Neoplasia

Question 1

Neoplasia vs. Cancer

Answer 1

Neoplasia= tumor 
Cancer= malignant tumor i.e. malignant neoplasm

Question 2

Fibroma

Answer 2

Benign tumor that is fibrous or developed connective tissue

Question 3

Chondroma

Answer 3

Benign tumor of hyaline cartilage

Question 4

Adenoma

Answer 4

Benign tumor of glands/ glandular structures

Question 5

Hemangioma

Answer 5

Benign tumor of newly formed blood vessels

Question 6

Lymphoma

Answer 6

Benign tumor of lymphoid tissue

Question 7

Papilloma

Answer 7

Benign epithelial tumor of the skin

Question 8

Polyp

Answer 8

Benign tumor of the mucosa

Question 9

Sarcoma

Answer 9

Malignant tumor derived from mesenchymal connective tissue

Question 10

Carcinoma

Answer 10

Malignant tumor derived from epithelial cells

Question 11

Mesothelioma & Melanoma

Answer 11

Two malignant tumors that don’t follow the “oma” suffix rule (“oma”=benign, usually)

Question 12

Teratoma

Answer 12

Tumor derived from more than one germ layer (may be benign or malignant)

Question 13

Characteristics of Malignant Cells

Answer 13

1) Anaplasia or undifferentiated
2) Pleomorphism or cells & nuclei of variable size/ shape
3) Hyperchromatic/ basophilic nuclei
4) Large nucleoli
5) Tripolar, quadpolar, or multipolar mitotic spindles
6) Loss of polarity

Question 14

Pathways of Metastatic Spread

Answer 14

1) Direct seeding of cavities or surfaces
2) Lymphatic spread
3) Hematogenous
4) Perineural invasion & spread

Question 15

Characteristics of Benign Tumors

Answer 15

• Well differentiated
• Progressive & slow growth
• No metastasis

Question 16

Characteristics of Malignant Tumors

Answer 16

• Undifferentiated
• Erratic growth that may be slow or rapid
• Metastasis

Question 17

What cancers have the highest incidence among men & women?

Answer 17

1) Glandular (prostate-men, breast-women)
2) Lung
3) Colorectal

Question 18

What cancers have the highest mortality?

Answer 18

1) Lung
2) Glandular (prostate & breast)
3) Colorectal

Question 19

What is the most common cancer among men?

Answer 19

Prostate adenocarcinoma

Question 20

Describe the pathology of prostate adenocarcinoma.

Answer 20

• Majority arise in the peripheral zone of the prostate gland; in the posterior
• Cancer suppressor genes lost early
• p53 mutations occur late
• Loss of E-cadherin is required for metastasis

Question 21

Where do most prostate cancers metastasize?

Answer 21

Lumbar Spine

Question 22

Serum Markers for Prostate Cancer

Answer 22

• PSA (prostate-specific antigen)

- PSAP (prostate serum acid phosphatase)

Question 23

Where are most breast cancers found & what type of cancer are they?

Answer 23

• Upper lateral quadrant

- Adenocarcinoma

Question 24

What is the most common cause of cancer mortality worldwide?

Answer 24

Lung cancer

Question 25

Where do most lung cancers originate?

Answer 25

Primary, secondary, or tertiary bronchi

Question 26

Which two lung cancers are associated with smoking?

Answer 26

1) Squamous cell carcinoma– men

2) Small cell carcinoma

Question 27

Which two lung cancers are not associated with smoking?

Answer 27

1) Adenocarcinoma– women

2) Large cell carcinoma

Question 28

Which type of colonic adenoma architecture is typically more malignant?

Answer 28

Sessile (vs. Pedunculated)

Question 29

What are the most common sites for colon cancer?

Answer 29

1) Cecum/ Ascending Colon
2) Sigmoid Colon/ Rectum
3) Transverse/ Descending Colon

Question 30

Are right-sided or left-sided colon cancers more common? Why?

Answer 30

Left-sided

- Transverse colon is excluded from calculations; thus, descending colon+ sigmoid + rectum>cecum & ascending colon

Question 31

Describe the staging of colon cancer.

Answer 31

TIS= Intramucosal tumor 
T1= Tumor penetrated submucosa 
T2= Tumor penetrated muscle layer 
T3= Complete penetration of muscle layer