Oncology Flashcards
Oncology/Cancer
refers to a large group of diseases characterized by uncontrolled cell proliferation and spread of abnormal cells
Malignant cells
differentiation is altered and may be lost completely
completely lost identity with the parent tissue is considered as undifferentiated (anaplastic)
The less differentiated a tumor becomes….
the faster metastasis occurs and the worse the prognosis is
Dysplasia
a disorganization of cells in which an adult cell varies from its normal size, shape or organization
Metaplasia
first level of dysplasia
- reversible and benign but abnormal change in which one adult cell changes from one type to another
Anaplasia
loss of cellular differentiation
the most advanced form of metaplasia and is considered the hallmark feature of malignant disease
Meta-
indicating change, alteration
Hyperplasia
increased number of cells in tissue or tissue mass
Neoplastic hyperplasia
the increase in cell mass due to tumor formation and is an abnormal process
-plast
living substance, organelle
Tumors (neoplasms)
abnormal new growth of tissue, serves no useful purpose, may harm host by competing for vital blood supply and nutrients
benign vs malignant
primary - tumor in pancreas
secondary - tumor/cancer cells in pancreas expands to liver
Carcinoma in situ
localized, pre-invasive, and possibly premalignant tumor of epithleal tissue
contained within the host organ and have not broken through basement membrane
Classification of neoplasm
cell type, tissue of origin, degree of differentiation ,anatomic site, benign vs malignant
Classification by cell type
epithelial tissue, connective tissue and muscle, nerve tissue, lymphoid tissue and hematopoietic tissue
Benign tissue suffix
-OMA
Malignant tissue suffix
- SACROMA
- CACINOMA
and lymphoma
Staging
stage of disease reflects the rate of growth, extent of the neoplasm and the prognosis
Stage 0
carcinoma in situ (premalignant, preinvasive)
Stage 1
early stage, local cancer
Stage 2
increased risk of spread because tumor size
Stage 3
local cancer has spread but may not be disseminated to distant regions
Stage 4
cancer has spread and disseminated to distant sites
TNM Staging system (Tx, T0, Tis, T1, T2, …)
T: Primary tumor
N: Regional lymph nodes
M: Distant metastasis
x = can not be assessed
0 = no evidence of tumor
IS = carcinoma in situ (confined to site of origin)
1, 2, 3, 4; progressive increase in tumor size and involvement locally
Grading
numerical score or scale done by pathologists for different types of tumors
lower the value the lower the tumor grade and the better differentiation of tissue within the tumor
a highly scored/scaled tumor is considered a high-grade tumor with poor cellular differentiation and a tendency to metastasize early
high score is bad (i think)
Incidence commonly diagnosed cancers
most commonly diagnosed cancers are lung, breast and colorectal
most prevalent cancer in the world is
lung cancer
lung cancer accounts for the largest number of cancer deaths worldwide
Gender-based incidence
men; prostate, lung and bronchus and colon/rectum most common
women; breast, lung and bronchos and colon/rectum