Neoplasia Flashcards
What is neoplasia?
A clonal process initiated by a genetic mutation conferring growth advantage on the cells involved
Can be benign or malignant
How can benign tumors cause harm?
SC compression, airway compression, hemorrhage, hormone secretion
What are hematopoietic malignancies?
Leukemias and lymphomas are malignant
Do not stay localized
Describe the stroma of breast carcinoma cells
Fibrous and contributes to the hard scirrhous nature of the tumor mass (helps with identification of the mass during palpation)
The cellular clone that encompasses the tumor cellularity is the primary population responsible for what?
Invasion, spread and metastasis
Induction of changes in surrounded stroma by the tumor can result in what?
Formation of a friendly microenvironment that cancer growth may depend on
Characteristic texture of the cancer
What is a carcinoma?
Malignant tumor derived from epithelium
What is a sarcoma?
Malignant tumor derived from mesenchyme(ex. Bone, muscle, fibrous tissue, cartilage, fat, BVs)
What is a teratoma?
From totipotent stem cells
Has epithelial elements stemming from ectoderm as well as mesenchymal elements
Defined on the basis of more than one germ cell layer
What are hamartomas?
An overgrowth of mature tissues that normally occur in an area of the body but with disorganization and often with one element predominating
What are choristomas?
A mass of tissue histological ply normal for a part of the body other than the one in which it is located (heterotopic/ectopic)
What is metaplasia?
One cell type is replaced with another typically as a stress responses
This new cell type is prone to acquisition of genetic damage leading to dysplasia
What is dysplasia?
Disordered growth
What is carcinoma in situ?
Full thickness, severe dysplasia
Can be proliferative, pleomorphic and expansive
Has to have a basement membrane otherwise it is just an invasive carcinoma
Can be larger than the invasive component
What are the morphologic changes that lead to cancer?
Metaplasia —> dysplasia —> carcinoma in situ
What is differentiation?
How much does the neoplasm resemble the cells of origin?
A lot = well differentiated
Not at all = poorly differentiated
What is a malignant tumor of gastric epithelium?
Adenocarcinoma
What morphologic feature (microscopically viewable) can reflect the tumors rate of growth?
Mitotic features
What are the telltale morphologies of poorly differentiated malignancy?
Anaplasia (lack of differentiation) Pleomorphism (variability of cell size/shape) Abnormal nuclear morphology Increased or abnormal mitosis Loss of polarity
Stains showing a feature in malignant cells like mucin-production reflect a degree of what?
Glandular differentiation —> adenocarcinoma
Immunostains showing the tumor cells express Ags or other cellular components of the cell of origin may also reflect what?
Higher levels of differentiation
Ex. Thyroid carcinoma showing positive staining of thyroglobulin
Endocrine tumors are often associated with what?
Hormone secretion
Often very well differentiated
In acute leukemias the cancerous cells have halted maturation at what stage?
Blast stage
In chronic leukemias the cancer cells consist of what type of cells?
Mature blood cells
What are smooth muscle tumors?
Leimyomata (well circumscribed uterine tumor)
Leiomyosarcoma (poorly circumscribed, necrotic, hemorrhagic uterine tumor)
What are the types of metastasis?
Lymphatic spread, hematogenous spread, direct seeding
What is metastasis via lymphatic spread?
Gain entry to lymphatic vessels
MC route of spread for carcinomas
Depends on regional drainage
What is metastasis via hematogenous spread?
Gain entry to arterial/venous vessels
Classic for sarcoma but may be seen in carcinomas
Lung, liver, and bone are primary targets
What is metastasis is via direct seeding?
Gain entry to a free compartment/body cavity (like the peritoneal space)
Also known as trans-coelomic spread
Describe a sentinel LN biopsy
At the time of surgery tracer dye is injected into the tumor
The first LN to take up this dye is known as the sentinel LN
These LNs are preferentially removed
This isolates the most likely site of metastasis for emulation and prevents more extensive lymphadenectomy
What is Virchow node?
Supraclavicular lymphadenopathy (classically left sided)
Often associated with carcinoma especially in older adults
Any thoracic or abd carcinoma may be responsible
What is TNM staging?
T: tumor size, extent of invasion
N: degree and manner of nodal Mets
M: presence/absence of distant Mets