MOD Neoplasia 1 Flashcards
Describe a tumour
Heritably altered, relatively autonomous growth of tissue which presents as a clinically detectable lump or swelling.
Define neoplastic tumour
Focal, purposeless overgrowth of one cellular component.
Describe how a tumour is often DRIVEN
by normal genes that are expressed inappropriately as oncogenes (from pronto oncogenes)
How many different tumours can be distinguished under the microscope?
600 different types!
Why may a malignant tumour show areas of necrosis and ulceration if on a surface?
Tumour is growing faster than can initiate new blood supply and so breaks the surface
Give the four features of malignant tumours
Purposeless
Atypical (structurally and functionally abnormal in varying degrees)
Autonomous (escape controls of regular growth)
Aggressive (invade host)
Define transformation
Change of a normal cell to a malignant cell
Define neoplasm
Abnormal new growth of cells that persists after initial stimulus is removed
Define malignant neoplasm
Abnormal growth of new cells that persists after initial stimulus is removed and invades surrounding tissue with potential to spread to distant sites
Define carcinoma
Malignant epithelial tumour
What is a malignant epithelial tumour also known as?
Carcinoma
What is carcinogensis is
Production of cancer
What is a blastoma?
Poorly differentiated cell of embryonic type which is often found in children from immature precursor cells
What are the characteristics of benign tumours?
Slow growing
Non infiltrating
Non fatal
What is metastasis?
Move to of a malignant neoplasm from its original site to a new non-contiguous site (called the secondary site)
What are the 4 basic types of tissue?
Epithelial
Connective
Muscular
Neurones
What proportion of tumours do epithelial tumours make up?
80%
What can be said about the differentiation of benign tumours?
Always well differentiated. Closely resemble the parent tissue
Define adenoma and adenocarcinoma
Benign tumour arsing from gland
Malignant tumour arising from gland
What is an adenoma with a cavity called?
A cavity is called a cyst
Therefore….
Cystadenoma
Define polyp
Club-shaped tumour dangling from surface by a stalk.
They are soft and fleshy which grow out of skin or mucosa
Define sessile polyp
Polyp without a stalk (means a sitting polyp)
What is a polyp containing glandular growth called?
Adenomatous polyp
What is a papilloma?
Outgrowth from an epithelial surface but with thin branches (papillae)
Resemble a cauliflower in cross-section
What is a haemangioma?
Benign tumour of blood vessels
What is a lymphangioma?
Benign tumour of lymphatic vessels
What is the differentiation like of a malignant tumour?
Anything from well to poorly differentiated. It is not mean a tumour is necessarily benign if well differentiated.
Describe pleomorphism
As differentiation gets worse cells have increasing nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio, nuclear hyperchromasia, more Mitotic figures and increasing variation in size and shape of cells and nuclei.