LG5.10 Intro to Pathology part I: Neoplasia Flashcards
What does neoplasia mean?
New growth. Refers to uncontrolled cell growth; these cells can form masses called tumors. BUT not all neoplasms form tumors (leukemias).
How are tumors classified?
Clinically and Histologically
Correlation of both data lead to diagnostic criteria for tumors as either benign or malignant.
*not all benign tumors are harmless, some can compress the brain for example.
What are five characteristics of a benign tumor? Remember they’re opposite of malignant.
1) Slow growth/low mitotic index. In malignant tumors you can see mitotic activity (metaphase etc)
2) Well-defined capsule made by host to “wall it off” (malignant no capsule)
3) Well differentiated
4) Not invasive (but they do compress surrounding tissue)
5) No metastasis
What are some characteristics of a transformed cancerous cell?
Independent of normal cellular controls (oncogenes active, or p53 disregulation)
Anchorage independent (it can move)
Immortal
Anaplasia/undifferentiated (immature)
Pleomorphic: hyperchromatic nuclei that are usually larger than normal, and have multi-nucleoli (used for protein synthesis prior to cell division). Their rapid growth means they have very little cytoplasm (almost all nucleus)
High nuclear/cytoplasmic (NC) ratio 1:1 rather than 1:5
What is metaplasia, dysplasia, and hyperplasia?
Meta: Replacement of one cell type with another that is typcally less differentiated.
Dys: Loss of normal cell organization.
Hyper: Increased cell growth
Identify the prefix: Leiomyo Rabdomyo Condroma Lipoma angioma sarcoma carcinoma
smooth muscle skeletal muscle cartillage fat blood vessels conective tissue epithelial tissue
What are the hallmarks of malignant tumors grossly?
They invade the surrounding tissue by infiltration, causing a hallmark “Hemorrhage and Necrosis”within the tissue.
Necrosis is the result of the tumor sequestering the blood supply of healthy tissue
What is metastasis? What are the three main paths that malignant tumors spread throughout the body?
A process by which cells move from one site to another in the body. It involves a spread of malignant tumor cells from a primary location to some other site in the body.
Only malignant tumors metastasize, but not all are capable (i.e. primary brain tumors)
Always name the primary site of the cancer even if it kills patient through metastasis from this location to another.
3 paths: blood, lymph, direct extension of the primary tumor
How are benign tumors named?
According to the cell type which they resemble most, then add suffix “oma”.
glandular= adenoma
If the tumor is of connective tissue origin same rules apply: Cartilage=chondroma, smooth muscle=leiomyoma
Exceptions: not all tumors that end in oma are benign just most of them.
Explain tumor grading
Grading is based on the degree of anaplasia and proliferating cells and is done by the pathologist.
There are 3 grades of increasing malignancy: 1 well, 2 moderate, or 3 poorly differentiated. These don’t always correlate with the behavior of the neoplasm (grade 1 can still be bad)
Staging refers to the extent of the tumor spreading; this is assessed by an oncologist.
The assessment takes into account the size and grading of the primary tumor and the presence or absence of lymph node and distant metastasis.
This criteria, is called the TNM cancer staging system, gives a number designation to Tumor size, Lymph Node status, and Metastasis to determine the stage
Explain tumor staging
Staging refers to the extent of the tumor spreading; this is assessed by an oncologist.
The assessment takes into account the size and grading of the primary tumor and the presence or absence of lymph node and distant metastasis.
This criteria, is called the TNM
T=tumor size
N= lymph node status
M=metastasis
stages 1-4 (1 best, 4 worst)
