Neoplasia Flashcards
What is a carcinoma
Malignant epithelial tumour
How does a carcinoma start off?
Intra epithelial neoplasia
What is the most common tumour
Carcinoma
Name the different carcinomas
Breast, lung, colorectal, prostate
Is melanoma epithelial?
No
Intra epithelial neoplasia
Can be treated before it becomes invasive
What is the term for a group of cells whose nucleus varies in size and shape?
Pleomorphic
Are nucleoli of neopplastic cells larger or smaller than regular cells?
Larger - more activity plus the genome may enlarge
What is dysplasia?
It is the same as intra-epithelial neoplasia and is regarded as being pre-malignant. These can become carcinomas.
What is an in situ neoplasm/carcinoma
This occurs when there are severe changes during the dysplasia phase. At this point there is some architectural disorganisation and cytological atypia.
Invasive neoplasm
Accumulation of more mutation which allows the cell to invade through the basement membrane into the surrounding stroma. The lose there cohesiveness (down-regulation of integrins). Cells can detach and develop a blood supply
Does an in situ neoplasm metastasise?
No - called pre malignant
What is a common lace for a dysplastic gland to occur?
The colon
What sort of dysplatic lesions form a poly?
Glandular dysplastic lesions
What is hyperplasia?
Controlled cell proliferation (not neoplastic and no genetic changes)
What is metaplasia?
Change of a mature cell into another cell type - usually epithelium.
What drives metaplasia and hyperplasia?
Cytokine and growth factor changes - due to changes in environment or changes in hormones. Could be pathological or physiological. In some cases malignancy can develop in hperplastic or metaplastic cell.