Neoplasia I Flashcards
Neoplasia definition
“New growth”
Lack of responsiveness to normal growth controls
Oncology definition
Study of neoplasms
Benign neoplasm
Remains localized
Cannot spread to other sites
Generally amenable to surgical removal and patient survival
Malignant neoplasm
“Cancer”
Has the potential to invade and destroy adjacent normal tissue and spread to distant anatomic sites (metastasis)
Often leads to the death of the patient, especially without treatment
Parenchyma cells
The transformed or neoplastic cells - the cells from which the neoplasm was derived
What determines the biologic behavior of a neoplasm?
The parenchymal component - this is also where the neoplasm gets its name
Stroma
Refers to the “supporting” tissue of the tumor
The non-neoplastic blood vessels that supply the parenchyma
How do you name a benign tumor (or most of them)?
Attach the suffix “-oma” to the root word that describes the parenchymal cell type
ie - Fibroma = benign tumor of fibrous tissue origin
What is another way to name benign tumors?
Via their physical features
Adenoma - benign gland-forming epithelial tumor or tumor derived from glandular tissue
Papilloma - benign surface epithelial tumor characterized by numerous finger-like projections
Hamartoma
Proliferation of tissue normally found at that site
Choristoma
Collection of tissue not normally found at that anatomic site
“Heterotopic rest”
Teratoma
Neoplam derived from more than one germ layer
-can be all three, but has to be at least 2
Behavior ranges from benign to agressive
Malignant mesenchymal neoplasm nomeclature
Attach the suffix “-sarcoma” to the root word describing the parenchymal tissue of origin
Malignant epithelial neoplasm nomeclature
Carcinomas
ie, epithelial squamous cell carcinoma
What are the exceptions to malignancy nomeclature?
Lymphoma - malignancy of lymphatic origin
Melanoma - malignancy of melanocytic origin
Mesothelioma - pleural malignancy
Seminoma - testicular malignancy
Differentiation definition
It refers to how well the parenchymal cells of the neoplasm resemble their normal tissue of origin
aka - the parenchymal cells bear a strong resemblance to the tissue form which the tumor arose
Benign tumor differentiation
Almost always closely resemble normal tissue microscopally (well differentiated)
Malignant neoplasm differentiation
They may exhibit a wide range of differentiation - from well differentiated to extremely poor differentiated
Poorly differentiated malignancies are described as what?
Anaplastic
Anaplasia
Most extreme disturbance in cell growth and differentiation
Characteristics of Anaplasia
Pleomorphism (variation in size and shape) Nuclear hyperchromatism Increased nuclear:cytoplasmic ratio Atypical nuclei Numerous and atypical mitoses
Dysplasia
Disorderly, but non-neoplastic growth or proliferation
Usually refers to epithelial process of maturation
Cellular atypia and architectural changes, ranging from mild to carcinoma-in-situ
Potential to become invasive carcinoma
Carcinoma-in-siu
Has all of the microscopic features of cancer, but the atypical cells have not invaded into the host
Benign tumors often well-differentiated are more likely to what?
Retain function compared to malignancies
T/F - Malignancies may produce proteins that are functional, but unrelated to the tissue type of the tumor
True
Benign tumor growth rate
Slow
Well-differentiated malignancies growth rate
Relatively slow
Poorly-differentiated malignancies growth rate
Rapid
What happens to some rapidly growing tumors?
They outgrow their blood supply, resulting in areas of ischemic necrosis
What can slow growth in a benign neoplasm result in?
Usually results in formation of a compressed layer of CT enclosing the tumor (A capsule)
Most, but not all benign tumors have this capsule
What is the most reliable feature of Malignancies?
They grow by infiltration, invasion, and destruction of surrounding/local tissue
Lack well-defined capsules
