neoplasia Flashcards
definition of neoplasia
the uncontrolled, abnormal growth of cells or tissues in the body,
what are mesenchymal tumors?
tumors derived from the mesoderm, inculding bone, cartilage, fibrous tissue and other connective tissues
what is chondroma?
CARTILAGINOUS TUMOR. A benign tumor composed of cartilage, often found in the small bones of the hands and feet
what is a fribroma?
FIBROUS TUMOR. A benign tumor composed of fibrous or connective tissue, commonly found in the skin and subcutaneous tissue
what is an osteoma?
BONE TUMOR. A benign bone tumor, frequently occurring the bones of the skull and face
what are epithelial tumors?
tumors arising from epithelial cells, which originate from the ectoderm or endoderm.
what is an adenoma?
a benign tumor that forms in the glandular structures of epithelial tissue
what is a papilloma?
a benign tumor with finger-like projections, commonly found on the skin and in mucous membranes
what is a papillary cystadenoma?
a benign tumor that is both papillary and cystic, forming in glandular tissue, often found in the ovaries and pancreas
what is a polyp?
a growth projecting from a mucosal surface, commonly found in the colon, stomach, nasal cavity, and uterus.
list the different types of sarcomas?
- chondrosarcoma: cartilaginous tumor
- fibrosarcoma: fibrous tumor
- osteosarcoma: bone tumor
list carcinomas
- adenocarcinoma: gland forming tumor
- squamous cell carcinoma: squamous differentiation
- undifferentiated carcinoma: no differentiation
from which germ layers can carcinomas arise?
ectoderm, endoderm, and less likely, mesoderm
what is a well-differentiated neoplasm?
a neoplasm that resembles the mature cells of the cells of the tissue of origin
what is a poorly differentiated neoplasm?
a neoplasm composed of primitive cells with little differentiation
how is the biological behavior of an undifferentiated tumor usually characterized?
it often correlates with more aggressive and malignant behavior
what is the typical differentiation status of benign tumors?
well differentiated
how does the differentiation status of a tumor relate to its prognosis?
poorly differentiated malignant tumors usually have a worse prognosis than well-differentiated malignant tumors
what does dysplasia literally mean?
abnormal growth
what is malignant transformation?
a multistep process where normal cells become cancerous
what features are present in dysplasia?
some but not all of the features of malignancy are present, microscopically
can dysplasia develop into malignancy?
yes
Give examples of where dysplasia may develop into malignancy.
In the uterine cervix and colon polyps
How is dysplasia graded?
As low-grade or high-grade
How is high-grade dysplasia often classified?
It is often classified with carcinoma in situ (CIS).
what is the local invasion in context of malignant tumors?
the ability of malignant tumors to infiltrate and destroy surrounding tissues
what is the significance of a capsule in tumors?
benign tumors are often encapsulates, whereas malignant tumors usually lack a well-defined capsule, aiding in local invasion
what role does the basement membrane play in tumor biology?
the basement membrane is a barrier that, when breached by tumor cells indicates invasion and malignancy
what is metastasis?
the spread of cancer cells from the primary site to distant organs or tissues, and it is an unequivocal sigh of malignancy
what does seeding of body cavities mean in terms of metastasis?
the spread of cancel cells into body cavities, such as the peritoneal, pleural, or pericardial cavities, leading to secondary tumor formation
How do tumors metastasize through the lymphatic system?
Cancer cells enter lymphatic vessels, travel through lymph nodes, and potentially establish secondary tumors in distant sites.
How does hematogenous spread occur in cancer?
Tumor cells invade blood vessels and are transported via the bloodstream to distant organs, often the liver and lungs.
What surgical procedure was historically used to address nodal metastasis in breast cancer?
The Halsted radical mastectomy
What is a sentinel node biopsy?
A procedure to identify and remove the first lymph node(s) to which cancer cells are likely to spread from a primary tumor
Why is the number of involved nodes important in cancer staging?
It is a key component of the TNM staging system, which helps determine the stage of cancer and influences prognosis and treatment.
How does nodal involvement affect the prognosis of breast cancer?
The extent of nodal involvement is directly related to the risk of recurrence and overall prognosis.
What is adjuvant chemotherapy?
Additional cancer treatment given after the primary treatment to lower the risk of the cancer returning
Rate of growth - benign tumor
Progressive but slow. Mitoses few and normal
Rate of growth - malignant tumor
Variable. Mitoses more frequent and may be abnormal