Neoplasia Flashcards
What does neoplasia mean?
New growth
How is a tumour formed?
By an excessive uncontrolled proliferation of cells as a result of irreversible genetic change which is passed from one tumour cell to its prodegy
What are labile cells?
Cells which have a constant turnover and so need to be constantly replenished. These include blood and skin cells
Permanent cells are those which cannot proliferate and will no grow back if they are damaged. Give an example of this type of cell.
Neuron
How is necrosis different from apoptosis?
Necrosis is abnormal cell death usually as a result of disease and is not controlled. Necrosis involves swelling and is always detrimental. It can cause inflammation and tissue death.
Apoptosis is controlled/programmed cell death. It is usually beneficial and has no symptoms. It results in the shrinking of the cell and is initiated by internal factors.
What is hyperplasia?
An increase in cell number and thus an increase in the size of the tissue/organ
Give an example of where hyperplasia would occur normally in the body?
The expansion of the uterus during pregnancy
What is hypertrophy?
An increase in the size of the organ/tissue due to an increase in cell size
In metastatic tumours, what is the primary tumour?
The tumour at the site of origin where the tumour began
In metastatic tumours, what is the secondary tumour?
This is the tumour at sites other than the site of origin that the tumour has spread to
Cancer is the result of benign tumours. T/F?
False- it is the result of malignant tumours
Compare the growth pattern and growth rate of benign vs malignant tumours?
Benign - expansion remains localised and growth rate is generally slow
Malignant - infiltrates locally then spreads to other areas (metastasises) this happens at a fast rate
Compare the nuclei of cells in a benign tumour vs a malignant one.
Benign tumours have small, regular and uniform nuclei
Malignant tumours have larger, pleomorphic nuclei with increased DNA content
Compare the histology of benign vs malignant tumours.
Benign tumours resemble the tissue of origin
Malignant tumours often differ from the tissue of origin and are less well differentiated
What are the clinical effects of a benign tumour?
Local pressure
Effects hormone secretions
What are the clinical effects of a malignant tumour?
Local pressure and destruction causing pain
Distant metastases causing metastatic effects such as seizures if tumour has spread to brain or anaemia if spread to bone marrow
Inappropriate hormone secretion
Loss of appetite, weight loss, wasting
Generally unwell
Anaemia
Fever
How are benign tumours treated?
By local excision
How are malignant tumours treated?
By local excision alongside radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy
What is dysplasia?
A pre-cancerous stage of disordered epithelial growth which is characterised by loss of architectural orientation and development of cellular atypia
What is metaplasia?
A change from one type of differentiated tissue to another. Often the resulting tissue is better adapted to the environment. Often this can be a precursor to dysplasia and cancer
What is the general term for benign covering epithelial tumours?
Papilloma
What is the general term for benign glandular epithelial tumours?
Adenoma
What is the general term for benign epithelia covering solid organ tumours?
Adenoma
What is the general term for benign smooth muscle tumours?
Leiomyoma
What is the general term for benign skeletal muscle tumours?
Rhabdomyoma
What is the general term for benign bone forming tumours?
Osteoma
What is the general term for benign cartilage tumours?
Chondroma
What is the general term for benign fibrous tumours?
Fibroma
What is the general term for benign blood vessel tumours?
Angioma
What is the general term for benign adipose tumours?
Lipoma
What is the general term for malignant covering epithelial tumours?
Carcinoma
What is the general term for malignant glandular epithelial tumours?
Adenocarcinoma
What is the general term for malignant epithelia covering solid organ tumours?
Carcinoma
What is the general term for malignant smooth muscle tumours?
Leiomyosarcoma
What is the general term for malignant skeletal muscle tumours?
Rhabdomyosarcoma
In what type of malignant tumour is lymphatic spread most common?
Carcinoma
In what type of malignant tumour is blood spread most common?
Sarcomas
What is transcoelomic spread of malignant tumours and what types of tumour is it most common in?
It is the spread of the tumour across cavities. It is common in cancers of the ovary and stomach and malignant medithelioma
What is a neoplasm?
A new and abnormal growth - specifically one in which cell multiplication is uncontrolled and progressive
How do neoplasms differ histologically from their corresponding normal tissues?
Loss or reduction in differentiation
Loss or reduction in cellular cohesion
Nuclear enlargement, hyperchromasia, pleomorphism,
Increased mitotic activity
