Intro

Question 1

What is the difference between an incisional and excisional biopsy?

Answer 1

Incisional - taking wedge from mass

Excisional - removing whole mass

Question 2

What type of masses can be sampled using a punch biopsy?

Answer 2

Cutaneous, superficial lesions

NOT for LNs

Question 3

A Jamshidi needle is used to take what kind of biopsy?

Answer 3

Bone core biopsy

Question 4

Criteria of malignancy include hypercellularity, pleomorphism, high N:C ratio, multinucleation, karyomegaly (large nucleus), mitoses etc. How many are needed to diagnose a malignant tumour?

Answer 4

At least 3

Question 5

What is lymphangiography?

Answer 5

Injecting tumour with contrast
To see which LNs the tumour drains into
(Not necessarily mets there)

Question 6

What is the only tumour that can be diagnosed on haematology?

Answer 6

Leukaemia

Question 7

Cranial abdominal tumours usually metastasise to which LNs?

Answer 7

Sternal

Question 8

Thyroid carcinomas usually metastasise to which LNs?

Answer 8

Retropharyngeal

Question 9

Distal forelimb tumours usually metastasise to which LNs? What about the proximal FL?

Answer 9

Prescapular - distal FL

Axillary - proximal FL

Question 10

Apart from benign tumours, name a malignant tumour that has no metastasis

Answer 10

Oral acanthomatous ameloblastoma
Haemangiopericytomas
Schwannoma, neurofibroma

Question 11

What hypothesis suggests that cancer is a result of genetic instability?

Answer 11

Nowell’s hypothesis

Question 12

What are the 3 stages for solid tumours?

Answer 12

T = tumour 
N = metastasis in LNs
M = distant metastases

Question 13

Appetite stimulants may be used in palliative care. Give 2 examples

Answer 13

Mirtazapine (TCA)

Capromorellin (ghrelin analogue)

Question 14

How do abdominal masses in cats link to B12 levels?

Answer 14

GI lymphoma - likely to have low B12 (cobalamin)