Oncology Flashcards
Definition of tumour
Abnormal swelling - it is a cardinal feature of inflammation
Definition of neoplasms
A lesion which results from autonomous or relatively autonomous abnormal growth of which persists after the initiating stimulus has been removed.
What are four features of neoplasms
- Autonomous
- Abnormal
- Persistant
- A new growth
- Derived from nucleated cells
- Usually monoclonal
- Growth pattern is related to the parent cell
- Synthetic activity is related to parent cell (secretes same hormones, collagen etc).
What percentage of UK deaths are due to neoplasms?
20%
Highest prevalent cancers in males and females respectively:
Males - prostate, lung, bowel
Females - breast, lung, bowel
Cancers most likely to kill males and females respectively:
Males - lung, prostate, bowel
Females - lung, breast, bowel
Why do some fast growing tumours have necrotic tissue within the centre of them?
The tumour grows at a faster rate than the tumour angiogenesis process so some tissue is left without blood supply and becomes necrotic.
How can neoplasms be classified?
- Behavioural (benign, borderline, malignant)
2. Histogenetic
Three features of benign neoplasms
- Localised and non-invasive
- Slow growth rate
- Low mitotic activity
- Close resemblance to normal tissue
- Circumscribed or encapsulated
- Normal nucleus
- Necrosis and ulceration is rare
- Growth on mucosal surface
- Exophytic (grow outwards as they cant invade tissue)
How do benign neoplasms cause morbidity or mortality?
- Pressure on adjacent structures
- Obstruct blood flow
- Obstruct bowel
- Produce hormones
- Can transform into malignant neoplasms
- Cause anxiety
Three features of malignant neoplasms
- Always invasive
- Can be metastatic
- Rapid growth rate
- Variable resemblance to normal tissue
- Poor/irregularly defined border
- Hyperchromatic nuclei
- Pleomorphic nuclei
- Increased mitotic activity
- Necrosis and ulceration is common
- Endophytic
How do malignant neoplasms cause morbidity or mortality?
- Encroach and destroy surrounding tissue
- Destruction of adjacent structures
- Metastases cause damage to other areas of the body
- Blood loss through ulceration
- Obstruction of structures/blood flow/bowel
- Hormone production
- Paraneoplastic effects
- Anxiety and pain
Define papilloma
Benign tumour of non-glandular or non-secretory epithelium e.g. squamous cell papilloma
Define adenoma
Benign tumour of glandular or secretory epithelium e.g. thyroid adenoma
Define carcinoma
Malignant tumour of epithelial cells e.g. transitional cell carcinoma