HD EX 1 NEOPLASIA (3) Flashcards
What is Neoplasia?
An abnormality of cell growth - a new type of cellular growth in a tissue, ie tumor.
4 types of abnormalities of cell growth are…
- Hyperplasia: Number of cells increases. Cells are normal but too many of them.
- Hypertrophy: Size of cells increases. Ex: bodybuilders muscle cells are hypertrophic.
- Metaplasia: Size and number stay the same but the cell morphology changes (may be a pre-cancerous sign). There is a change in the cell inner structure.
- NEOPLASIA: a new type of celluluar growth in a tissue, ie tumor.
2 categories of neoplasia are…
benign (relatively harmless unless a vital area is involved) or malignant (cancerous and can grow and then spread throughout body).
Benign characteristics:
Benign: well defined, often encapsulated. appear similar to cell of origin. does not spread to other tissues. slow growth usually not fatal
Malignant characteristics:
Malignant:
Very invasive with vague borders.
Dedifferentiated, appear to be very immature version of cell origin.
Metastasis, spreads via blood or lymph to other tissues/organs.
Rapid growth.
High fatality.
Slide of Benign and Malignant shows…
benign is solid while malignant is spread out.
Death is usually due to complications caused by cancer…
not the cancer itself. It is the organ dysfunction it leads to that kills the patient not the cancer itself.
Neoplasm Nomenclature for Benign:
Tissue of origin + -oma
Neoplasm Nomenclature for
benign tumor in glandular tissue is
adenoma
Neoplasm Nomenclature for
benign tumor in bone is
osteoma
Neoplasm Nomenclature for
benign tumor in fatty tissue is
lipoma
Neoplasm Nomenclature for Malignant:
Tissue of origin is epithelial (functional tissue in organs) than add suffix -carcinoma
Tissue of origin is bone, muscle, cartilage, or connective tissue add suffix -sarcoma
Neoplasm Nomenclature for
malignant tumor in glandular tissue is
adenocarcinoma
Neoplasm Nomenclature for
malignant tumor in bone is
osteosarcoma
Neoplasm Nomenclature Exceptions!
- Melanoma and Lymphoma are usually malignant. Usually need a biopsy so will add results of biopsy in front afterwards. Need to see adjective in front of term (benign melanoma or malignant melanoma).
- Glioma is highly fatal malignancy of glial cells in the CNS
Etiology (cause) of Malignant Neoplasia (cancer)
- chemicals/carcinogens: chemicals used in food, cosmetics, plastics.
- smoking
- genetic predisposition: ABILITY or INABILITY to fight neoplastic malignant growth.
- viruses: stimulate neoplastic malignant growth
- hormones: can ENCOURAGE or INHIBIT neoplastic malignant growth
- radiation: damages nucleus of cell and causes neoplastic malignant growth to start.
- environmental agents: usually a carcinogen leaks into water, air.
Treatment for Neoplasia (Benign)
Surgical Resection
Treatment for Neoplasia (Malignant)
Surgery to remove all of tumor if feasible and if tumor has not metastasized. Palliative surgery may be done for symptom relief.
Radiation therapy kills rapidly dividing cells and can be done by penetration or implantation.
Chemotherapy often done in conjunction with radiation therapy.
Hormone Therapy - some hormones inhibit malignant neoplasia while others stimulate it. Hormone therapy may involve removing stimulating hormones (castration) or adding inhibiting hormones.
Types of chemotherapy:
- Alkylating agents - that inhibit tumor growth by reacting with DNA (nitrogen mustard, cytoxan)
- Antimetabolites - compete with tumor metabolites in producing nucleic acid (methotrexate)
- Plant alkaloids - alter protein synthesis and nucleic acids (vincristine)
Chemotherapy’s side effects…
many side effects, some pt. find chemo worse than the cancer!
