Oncology Flashcards
Carcinoma
Most common form of cancer
Carcinoma formed by
Epithelial cells
Epithelium
Covers all external body surfaces and lines all internal spaces, organs and cavities
Sarcoma formed in
Soft tissue and bones
Most common cancer of bone
Osteosarcoma
Leukemia
Begins in the blood forming tissue of bone marrow
Does not form solid tumors
Large numbers of abnormal WBCs (leukemia cells and leukemic bast cells) build up in the
Blood and bone marrow
Lymphoma begins in
Lymphocytes (T cells or B cells)
Lymphoma
Abnormal lymphocytes build up in the
Lymph nodes
Lymph vessels
Organs
Brain tumors can be
Benign or malignant
Germ cell tumors begin in the cells that become
Sperm or eggs
Neuroendocrine tumors form from cells that
Release hormones into the blood stream
Low grade tumors have better
Prognostic clinical outcomes
Grade 1 Tumor
Cancer cells resemble normal cells and are slow growing
Well differentiated
Grade II Tumor
Cancer cells look more abnormal and are slightly faster growing
Moderately differentiated
Grade III Tumor
Cancer cells are abnormal; grow or spread more aggressively
Poorly differentiated
Grade IV tumor
Cancer cells are abnormal
Undifferentiated
TMN is staged by 3 basic components
Primary Tumor (T)
Regional lymph nodes (N)
Metastasis (M)
TMN is used most often for
Solid tumors
“T” indicates the
Size, depth and area of the primary tumor
T0
No evidence of primary tumor
Tis
Carcinoma in situ (site of origin)
“N” represents
Regional lymph nodes involvement
N0
No evidence of metastases to regional lymph nodes
“M” notes the
Presence or absence of distant metastases
M0
No evidence of metastasis
M1
Distant metastasis present
Stage 0
Carcinoma in situ
Premalignant, Pre invasive
Stage I
Early stage, cancer is usually localized to primary organ
Tumor is </= 2 cm, has not spread to lymph nodes
Stage II
Tumor is locally advanced; 2.5 cm with out without lymph node involvement
Increased risk of regional spread because of tumor size
Stage III
Tumor is locally more advanced; spread to lymph nodes
Local cancer has spread regionally but may not be disseminated to distant regions
Stage IV
Tumor has metastasized or spread to other organs throughout the body
Cancer has spread to distant sites
Metastasis
Spread of tumor cells from a primary site of origin to a distant site
Metastasis sequential steps
Direct or continuous extension of local invasion
Penetration into lymphatics/blood vessels
Release into lymph or blood
Transport to secondary sites
Entry and growth in secondary sites
Metastasis 5 most common
Lymph nodes
Liver
Lungs
Bone
Brain
Spread of metastasis may be negatively influenced by
Aging or dysfunctional immune system
Hormonal environment
Metastases most commonly observed in therapy
Pulmonary
Hepatic
Skeletal
CNS
