Neoplasia Flashcards
What is a neoplasm?
This is an abnormal growth of cells which persists even when the initial stimulus has been removed.
What is a malignant neoplasm?
A neoplasm which has the capability to invade surrounding tissues and spread to distant sites.
What is a tumour?
A physically detectable lump or swelling.
What is another word for malignant neoplasm?
Cancer
What is metastasis?
A malignant neoplasm which has spread from its original site to a new non-continuous site.
What is dysplasia? Is this neoplastic?
This is cells which show disordered tissue organisation. It is not neoplastic because it is reversible.
How will a benign neoplasm look?
It will push and squash the surrounding tissue as it grows.
What will be seen when a mallignant neoplasm is present in tissues?
This will have an irregular border as it invades tissue and ulceration and necrosis occur when on a surface.
Define anaplastic
These are cells which have no resemblance to the original tissue
What changes are seen to nuclei as neoplasms progress?
The nuclei increase in size, and there is a greater nucleus to cytoplasm ratio.
What is pleomorphism?
This is where a tissue has cells with a wide variety of sizes and shapes.
What is hyperchromasia?
Increased nucleus staining.
How can we define dysplasia which has worsened to a stage where it is no longer reversible?
Carcinoma in situ.
What type of dell population is a neoplasm?
Monoclonal
What is cancer progression?
This is characterised by the cell suffering further mutations.
Name three common cancer initiators.
Chemicals, infections and radiation
What are the two types of chemicals which cause cancer called?
Initiators and promoters.
If a women is heterozygous for a gene, which will be seen in normal tissue?
The tissue will be a patchwork of both alleles of the gene.
What two genes do genetic alterations leading to cancer affect?
Proto oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes.
What is lyonisation?
This is when an X chromosome is turned off, and this leads to a single one being expressed. This occurs in the embryo
What is lyonisation?
This is when an X chromosome is turned off, and this leads to a single one being expressed. This occurs in the embryo
