Histopathology Part 4- (p183-207- Breast, Cerebral, Neurodegenerative, Bone, Skin + Miscellaneous) Flashcards
How does acute mastitis present?
Painful
Red breast
Fever
Either lactational or non-lactational
What causes lactational and non-lactational acute mastitis?
Lactational- staphylococcal infection (often polymicrobial)
Non-lactational- secondary to duct ectasia
Treatment of lactational acute mastitis?
Continued expression of milk + antibiotics +/- surgical drainage
Treatment of non-lactational acute mastitis?
Abx + treatment of duct ectasia
Who does mammary duct ectasia usually occur in?
Multiparous 40-60yo women
Smokers- biggest RF
How does duct ectasia present?
Poorly defined palpable periareolar mass with thick white nipple secretions
What is the pathophysiology of duct ectasia?
Dilatation in one or more of the larger lactiferous ducts, which fill with a stagnant brown or green secretion, which may discharge.
These fluids irritate surrounding tissue leading to periductal mastitis or even abscess and fistula formation
Which condition mimics the mammographic appearance of cancer?
Duct ectasia
What would you see on cytology for duct ectasia?
Proteinaceous material
Inflammatory cells
What is fat necrosis of the breast?
Inflammatory reaction to damaged adipose tissue (can be delayed 10y from trauma)
How does fat necrosis of the breast present?
Painless breast mass which can mimic carcinoma by displaying skin tethering or nipple retraction
What is fibrocystic disease/fibroadenosis?
Breast lumpiness
Common group of changes caused by exaggerated hormone response:
Cystic- small cysts form by dilation of lobules and contain fluid
Fibrosis- secondary to cyst rupture
Adenosis- increased number of acini per lobule
What would you see on histology for gynaecomastia?
Epithelial hyperplasia
Finger-like projections into ducts
What is a fibroadenoma commonly referred to as?
A breast mouse- spherical and freely mobile
What is the most common benign breast tumour?
Fibroadenoma
When do fibroadenomas usually occur?
Reproductive period- usually 20-30y
What has a strong influence over fibroadenomas?
Hormones- increase in size during pregnancy and calcify after menopause
What is a duct papilloma?
Benign papillary tumour within the duct system of the breast
How does duct papilloma present?
Bloody discharge
No lump
Where does breast cancer rank in the most common cancers in women?
Numero uno
Women’s lifetime risk of breast cancer?
1 in 8
In which age range is breast cancer more common?
75-80y
What are the risk factors for breast cancer?
Susceptibility genes- BRCA1/2 Hormone exposure- early menarche, late menopause, OCP, HRT etc Advancing age FH Race (Caucasian most likely) Obesity Smoking Alcohol
How does breast cancer present?
Hard fixed lump
Paget’s disease (eczema of nipple then areola- normal eczema never affects the nips)
Peau d’orange
Nipple retraction
What is the breast cancer screening programme in the UK?
47-73yo women are invited every 3y for mammography
What is breast carcinoma in situ?
Neoplastic epithelial proliferation limited to ducts (DCIS) or lobules (LCIS) by basement membrane
How is breast carcinoma histologically subcategorised?
Ductal- can’t be classified into one of the others, most common
Lobular- cells in single file chains/strands
Tubular- well formed tubules with low grade nuclei
Mucinous- abundant extracellular mucin
What is the triple assessment for breast cancer?
Examination
Radiological exam- mammography/USS/MRI)
FNA + cytology
What are all neoplastic breast lesions assessed for?
Oestrogen receptor, progesterone receptor and HER2 receptor status
How does ER/PR/HER2 receptor status influence prognosis?
ER/PR positive- good as responds to tamoxifen
HER2 positive- bad prognosis
What is tamoxifen’s MOA?
Mixed agonist/antagonist of oestrogen at its receptor
What is herceptin/trastuzumab?
Monoclonal Ig to Her2
What is it important to monitor in herceptin treatment?
LVEF as it is toxic to myocardium
Where do phyllodes tumours arise from?
Interlobular stroma with increased cellularity and mitoses
What are the main differences between male and female breast cancer?
Lesions easier to find due to smaller breasts but lack of awareness may postpone treatment
Presence of gynaecomastia may mask condition
Diagnosis made later in males
Lesions less contained as don’t have to travel far to infiltrate
Almost 1/2 of male b cancer patients are stage III or IV
What is an infarction?
An area of tissue death due to lack of oxygen
What is the most common cause of a cerebral infarction?
Cerebral atherosclerosis
RFs for strokes and TIAs?
Smoking, DM, HTN, FH, past TIAs, OCP, PVD, ETOH, hyperviscosity e.g. sickle cell or polycythaemia vera
Symptoms and signs of stroke?
Sudden onset FAST Numbness Loss of vision Dysphagia
Symptoms and signs of TIA?
<24h
Amaurosis fugax- painless temporary loss of vision
Carotid bruit
Commonest area affected in a stroke?
MCA
Investigations for stroke/TIA?
CT/MRI (infarct vs haemorrhage) for stroke
Carotid US for TIA
Vascular risk- BP, FBC, ESR, U+E, glu, lipids, CXR, ECG, carotid doppler
Stroke/TIA management?
Aspirin +/- dipyridamole
Thrombolytics (if <3h) for stroke
+/- carotid endarterectomy
Long term- HTN, lipid reducing, anticoag
How would a stroke affecting the anterior cerebral artery (ACA) present?
Contralateral leg paresis
Sensory loss
Cognitive deficits (apathy, confusion, poor judgement)
How would a stroke affecting the MCA present?
Contralateral weakness and sensory loss of face and arm
Cortical sensory loss
Contralateral homonymous hemianopia or quadrantopia
If dominant hemisphere- aphasia
If non-dominant- neglect
Eye deviation towards side of lesion and away from weak side
How would a stroke affecting the PCA present?
Contralateral hemianopia or quadrantopia
Midbrain findings- CNIII and IV palsy/pupillary changes, hemiparesis
Thalamic findings- sensory loss, amnesia, decreased level of consciousness
Bilateral- cortical blindness or prosopagnosia
How would a stroke affecting the basilar artery present?
Proximal- impaired extraocular movement, vertical nystagmus, reactive miosis, hemi or quadriplegia, dysarthria, locked-in syndrome, coma
Distal- somnolence (sleepy), memory and behaviour abnormalities, oculomotor impairment
What type of haemorrhages are commonly non-traumatic?
Intraparenchymal
Subarachnoid
What is the common site for intraparenchymal haemorrhage?
Basal ganglia
What are responsible for 85% of subarachnoid haemorrhages?
Ruptured berry aneurysms
How does a SAH present?
Thunderclap headache
Vomiting
LoC
Usually in F <50
Patients with which conditions are at increased risk of SAH?
Polycystic kidney disease
Ehler’s Danlos
Aortic coarctation pts
Which cerebral haemorrhages are usually due to trauma?
Extradural
Subdural
Traumatic parenchymal
Which artery is involved in an extradural haemorrhage?
Middle meningeal artery ruptures
How does a subdural typically present?
Prev history of minor trauma -> damaged bridging veins with slow venous bleed, often elderly/alcoholic, associated with brain atrophy and fluctuating consciousness
Six types of brain herniation?
Uncal Central- transtentorial Cingulate- subfalcine Transcalvarial Upward tonsilar
Which organism most commonly causes meningitis in newborns-3m olds?
Group B strep (90% in first 5 days)
E. Coli and Listeria monocytogenes as well
Which organisms most commonly causes meningitis in 1m-6y olds?
Neisseria meningitidis, streptococcus pneumoniae, haemophillus influenza type B
Which organisms most commonly causes meningitis in >6yo olds?
N. meningitidis, strep pneumoniae, mumps (pre-MMR vaccine)
Which viruses cause meningitis?
Enteroviruses (80%), CMV, Arbovirus, HSV (most common in adults)
What RFs are there for meningitis?
Young
HIV
Immunocompromised
Environmental- crowding, poverty + close contact with affected individuals
What would you see in the CSF for bacterial/pyogenic meningitis (appearance, predominant cell, cell count, glucose, protein and presence of bacteria in smear or culture)?
Appearance- turbid Predominant cell- polymorphs e.g. neutrophils Cell count- 90-1000+ Glucose- low <40 Protein- high >250 Bacteria in smear and culture
What would you see in the CSF for TB meningitis (appearance, predominant cell, cell count, glucose, protein and presence of bacteria in smear or culture)?
Appearance- fibrin web Predominant cell- mononuclear e.g. lymphocytes Cell count- 10-1000 Glucose- low <40 Protein- high 50-500 Bacteria often not in smear
What would you see in the CSF for viral meningitis (appearance, predominant cell, cell count, glucose, protein and presence of bacteria in smear or culture)?
Appearance- clear Predominant cell- mononuclear e.g. lymphocytes Cell count- 50-1000 Glucose- normal Protein- normal or high <100 Bacteria often not in smear
Symptoms of viral encephalitis?
Drowsiness Seizures Behavioural changes Headache Fever
Viruses that cause viral encephalitis?
Enteroviruses HSV VZV Arboviruses Adenoviruses HIV Mumps Rubella Rabies
Are most brain tumours primary or secondary tumours?
Secondary
Which cancers are the most common primaries for secondary brain tumours?
Lung
Breast
Malignant melanoma
Commonest type of primary brain tumour?
Astrocytomas
Which familial syndromes are associated with CNS tumours?
Von Hippel Lindau- hemangioblastoma of cerebellum, brainstem and spinal cord
Tuberous sclerosis- giant cell astrocytoma
NF type 1- neurofibroma astrocytoma
NF type 2- Meningioma, ependydoma, astrocytoma
Li-Fraumeni- astrocytoma, primitive neuroectodermal tumour
Turcot syndrome- glioblastoma multiforme, medulloblastoma, pineoblastoma
MEN 1- pituitary adenoma
What is the common pathogenic mechanism behind neurodegenerative diseases e.g. dementia?
Accumulation of misfolded proteins (intra or extra-cellular
What are the four As of dementia?
Amnesia
Aphasia- language disorder
Apraxia- unable to do skills
Agnosia- unable to recognise people, objects
What is the pathological misfolded protein in Alzheimer’s disease?
Tau
Beta-amyloid
What is the pathological misfolded protein in Lewy body dementia?
Alpha-synuclein
Ubiquitin
What is the pathological misfolded protein in corticobasal degeneration?
Tau
What is the pathological misfolded protein in frontotemporal dementia linked to Chr 17?
Tau
What is the pathological misfolded protein in Pick’s disease?
Tau
What changes occur to the brain during Alzheimer’s
Generalised atrophy of the brain
Widened sulci
Narrowed gyri
Enlarged ventricles (temporal and frontal especially)
Senile plaques of beta-amyloid protein and neurofibrillary tangles of tau protein
How is Alzheimer’s diagnosed?
Clinical diagnosis
PET and MRI may help
How is Alzheimer’s treated?
Symptomatic:
Anti-cholinesterases
nAChR agonists
Glutamate antagonists
How can Lewy Body Dementia be differentiated from Alzheimer’s?
Psychological disturbances- visual hallucinations- small people or animals
Day to day fluctuations
Signs of Parkinsonism (very similar)
Recurrent falls and syncope
What is the pathology of Parkinson’s disease?
Death of dopaminergic neurones in substantia nigra -> reduced stimulation of the motor cortex by the basal ganglia
How does Parkinsons present?
TRAP Tremor Rigidity Akinesia Postural instability
What is the pathology of multiple sclerosis?
Autoimmune demyelinating disease with plaques
How does multiple sclerosis commonly present?
20-40yo, focal sx e.g. optic neuritis, poor coordination
Aetiology of osteoporosis?
Age-related or secondary to systemic disease/drugs
Disease features of osteoporosis?
Decreased bone mass- >2.5 SD below normal (1-2.5=osteopenia)
Symptoms of osteoporosis?
Low impact fractures- NOF or Colles’
Pain
RF for osteoporosis?
Age Smoking F Poor diet Low BMI
Changes of x ray for osteoporosis?
Usually none
Histology of osteoporosis?
Loss of cancellous bone
Biochemical changes of osteoporosis (Ca, PO4, ALP)?
All normal
Aetiology of osteomalacia/rickets?
Low dietary vit D
low sunlight
Malabsorption of vit D
Genetic causes
What is osteomalacia/rickets?
Decreased bone mineralisation
Symptoms of osteomalacia?
Bone pain/tenderness
Proximal muscle weakness
Symptoms of Rickets?
Bone pain Bowing tibia Rachitic rosary Frontal bossing Pigeon chest Delayed walking
Changes of x ray for osteomalacia?
Looser’s zones (pseudofractures)
Splaying of metaphysis
Histology of osteomalacia?
Excess of unmineralised bone