Head and Neck Pathology Flashcards
What are Aphthous ulcers (canker sore)?
Prognosis?
Noninfectious ulcers of oral mucosa with unkown etiology. (erosion of the squamous epithelium)
Resolves in 7-10 days or persistent for weeks
What is Herpes Stomatitis caused by?
Transmission?
What happens in the two stages?
How to dx?
HSV Type I
Person to person transmission
Virus persists in dormant state and will reactivate (vesicles (cold sore) with intraepithelial edema–>clear fluid–> rupture–> ulcer)
Tzank test (swab ulcer and smear on slide and stain) looking for the 3 M’s: Multinucleation, molding, margination
How does Candidiasis of the oral cavity present?
Causes?
Thrush
Most common fungal infection of the oral cavity.
Causes:
Dentures,
diabetes mellitus,
steroids,
prolonged antibiotic therapy,
widespread cancer,
immunosuppression (transplant, AIDS)
What is the clinical appearance of Candidiasis?
Microscopic apperance?
White plaque-like pseudomembrane, scraping it off shows erythematous base.
Microscopic apperance: fungal hyphae superficially attached to underlying mucosa. Use special stain=GMS (silver
What is Squamous papilloma?
Sites?
Gross appearance?
Microscopic appearance?
Benign epithelial hyperplasia associated with HPV (the low risk subtypes, HPV-6 and HPV-11)
Lingual, labial, buccal, larynx
Soft, finger like projections
Papillary hyperplasia of squamous mucosa with fibrovascular cores.
What are Vocal Cord nodules and Polyps?
Cause?
How to treat?
Cancer Risk?
Nodules which are..
Bilateral on opposing surface of the middle third of vocal cord
Single in the ventricle or Reinke’s space
Causes: Smoking and vocal abuse
Treat: Rest
No Cancer Risk
What are precancerous lesions of the oral cavity and how do they appear?
What are they associated with/what are their risks for malignancy?
Leukoplakia (WHITE patch caused by epidermal thickening or hyperkeratosis that cannot be scrapped off (unlike trush). Occasionally associated with epithelial dysplasia with risk of malignancy 5-25%)
and
Erythroplakia (RED granular area that maybe is elevated with poorly defined boundaries. USUALLY ASSOCIATED WITH epithelial dysplasia. Risk of malignancy ~50%)
What is the most common malignancy in the oral cavity and larynx?
What are the different stages?
What age and gender are more common?
Advancements in early dx?
Squamous Cell Carcinoma (95%)
I. Hyperplasia- increased number of cells
II. Dysplasia- Progressively increasing degrees of pleomorphism, hyperchromasia, increased nuclear size and nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio)
Mild dysplasia has risk of carcinoma 1-2% over 5-10 years
Severe dysplasia has risk of carcinoma 5-10% over 5-10 years
III. Carcinoma
Age 50-70 years. M>F
No significant improvements in early dx of oral/laryngeal cancers over the past 25 years.
How does epithelial dysplasia look?
Mild vs. Moderate vs. Carcinoma In Situ?
- Proliferation of immature (Basal) cells
- Loss of cell polarity
- Increased # of mitotic figures
- Variation in nuclear size and shape
- Hyperchromasia
Mild-lower 1/3, Moderate-2/3 CIS-full thickness. Invasive after breaks through underlying stroma.
What are squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity and larynx associated with?
Tobacco
Alcohol
Family Hx
HPV (high risk serotypes, HPV-16, HPV-18)
Leukoplakia
Erythroplakia
Where do squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity appear?
Most occur on the tongue and floor of mouth
Also underside of tongue, gingiva, hard/soft palates, dorsal tongue, mucosa
Why is it important to catch oral squamous cell carcinoma early?
Where do they metastasize to?
5 year survival rate for Early stage 80% versus Late stage 19%
Sites of metastasis: Regional lymph nodes (submental, cervical). Distant: lung, liver, bone, mediastinal lymph nodes.
What carcinoma is most common in larynx?
Where does it occur most commonly?
Where else?
Also Squamous cell carcinomas are the most common
Most commonly on the Glottis (true vocal cords): Patient presents with hoarseness.
Also appears on supraglottic or infraglottic (usually asymptomatic early in course and diagnosed at later stages).
Also can spread into adjacent structures (you get hemoptysis or dysphagia)
How is carcinoma of the larynx treated?
Radiation. IF reoccur, surgery. (Laryngectomy)
How can the microscopic appearance of squamous cell carcinoma be problematic?
They appear the same no matter the origin, whether it is oral cavity, larynx, lungs etc. Ergo it makes it more difficult to know if it is primary or secondary.
