Marco & Micro Morphology in Neoplasia

Question 1

What is anaplasia?

Answer 1

Lack of cell differentiation

Question 2

True/False. Benign tumors are generally painless.

Answer 2

False. Benign tumors generally exhibit some pain and tenderness. Malignant tumors are more likely to be painless.

Question 3

What process can be used to detect oncogenes?

Answer 3

DNA probe analysis

Question 4

Aneuploidy is associated with what tumor characteristics?

Answer 4

Faster growth and increased death risk

Question 5

What is the relationship between mitotic figures and survival rate?

Answer 5

Inverse relationship - the greater number of mitotic figures, the lower the survival rate

Question 6

A patient presents to their doctor with an abnormal lump. They noticed the lump last year and it has grown very little. It is also freely moveable. These characteristics are indicative of what type of tumor?

Answer 6

Benign tumor

Question 7

What is the difference between carcinoma in situ and squamous cell carcinoma?

Answer 7

Carcinoma in situ is entirely within the epithelium, whereas squamous cell carcinoma involves penetration of the basement membrane

Question 8

What oncofetal proteins are associated with cancer in adults?

Answer 8

Alpha-fetoprotein & carcinoembryonic antigen

Question 9

A tumor is biopsied and reviewed by a pathologist. They describe the cellular appearance as random, irregular, disorganized, and hyperchromatic. What type of tumor is this?

Answer 9

Malignant tumor

Question 10

CA-125 is associated with what cancer?

Answer 10

Ovarian cancer

Question 11

What hormones, when abnormally expressed, are known to be associated with tumors?

Answer 11

HCG, calcitonin, catecholamines, any hormone generally not expressed in that area

Question 12

Barret’s esophagus is an example of what tissue process?

Answer 12

Metaplasia - change of cells to another type not expected in that tissue (ex: squamous to columnar)

Question 13

What is desmoplasia?

Answer 13

A process in which ECM and collagen is produced by stromal cells - this is the reason why malignant tumors are fibrous and hard

Question 14

CA-19-9 is associated with what cancer?

Answer 14

Colon and pancreatic cancer

Question 15

What is the use of Flow Cytometry?

Answer 15

Determine the tumor’s degree of ploidy

Question 16

A surgeon removes a tumor with clear, well-defined margins. The pathologist describes the cellular appearance as organized, similar, and neat. What type of tumor is this?

Answer 16

Benign tumor

Question 17

What cancer antigen is associated with ovarian cancer?

Answer 17

CA-125

Question 18

Your attending tells you a patient has a tumor of the epithelial tissue, without penetration of the basement membrane. What is the diagnosis?

Answer 18

Carcinoma in situ

Question 19

What type of collagen is generally produced by stromal cells due to tumor stimulation?

Answer 19

Collagen Type 1

Question 20

What oncofetal protein is associated with liver and testicular cancer?

Answer 20

Alpha-fetoprotein

Question 21

What cancers are associated with carcinoembryonic antigen?

Answer 21

colon, lung, pancreas, stomach, breast

Question 22

What cancer non-fetal antigen is associated with colon and pancreatic cancer?

Answer 22

CA-19-9