Oncology Flashcards
Define oncology
The study of tumours
Define tumour
An abnormal mass of tissue, the growth of which is
virtually autonomous and exceeds that of normal tissues
How are tumours different from non-neoplastic proliferations?
Unlike non-neoplastic proliferations, growth of tumours persists after cessation of the stimuli that initiated change
What are the two components of tumours?
- Neoplastic cells
- Supporting stroma
(i. e. CT, blood vessels)
Give some examples of benign tumours
- Lipoma
- Fibroma
- Osteoma
- Leiomyoma
- Adenoma
- Papilloma
What do carcinomas affect?
Give 2 examples of these
- Epithelial tissue
- Oral squamous cell carcinoma
- Adenocarcinoma
What do sarcomas affect?
Give 2 examples of these
- Mesenchymal tissue
- Osteosarcoma
- Liposarcoma
Distinction of malignant tumours are based on appearance and behaviours
What behaviours of tumours suggest that they are malignant? (4)
- Altered differentiation and anaplasia
- Rate of growth
- Metastases
- Local invasion
(eg OSCC invasion through basement membrane into underlying connective tissue)
All malignant tissues metastasise except for? (2)
- Tumours of the brain
- Basal cell carcinoma
Where do tumours spread via? (3)
- Body cavities
- Lymphatics
- Blood vessels (haematogenous)
Bone and soft tissue tumours (sarcomas) spread primarily through what?
Blood system
Melanoma, breast, lung and gastrointestinal tumours spread through what?
Lymphatic system
What is the most common cancer worldwide?
Lung cancer
What are the top 3 cancers for men?
- Lung
- Prostate
- Colorectal
What are the top 3 cancers for women?
- Breast
- Colorectal
- Lung
What are some environmental factors that can cause some mutations in the genome in somatic cells? (3)
- Chemical
- Radiation
- Viruses
What can mutations in the genome in somatic cells cause? (3)
- Activation of growth- promoting oncogenes
- Alterations of genes that regulate apoptosis and DNA repair
- Inactivation of cancer suppressor genes
Give the chemical carcinogens for the following tumours;
Lung cancer & Mesothelioma (2)
- Aromatic hydrocarbons
- Asbestos
Give the chemical carcinogens for the following tumours;
Hepatocellular cancer
Gastric cancer
Bladder cancer
Aplastic anaemia
- Hepatocellular cancer
- Nitrosamines and amides
- Azo dyes
- Alkylating agents
How can ionising radiation promote cancer?
By damaging cellular genes resulting in gene mutations
What are some sources of radiation? (3)
- Natural radiation
- Nuclear power
- Medical tests
What are some predisposing factors of basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinoma? (6)
- UV radiation (sun exposure in childhood)
- Skin type I or II (freckles)
- Arsenic
- Ionising radiation
- Burn/vaccination scars
- Immunosuppression
Give some examples of chromosomal abnormalities leading to tumours (4)
- Balanced translocations
- Point mutations
- Deletion of tumour suppressor genes
- Gene amplification
A 58-year old smoker has been losing weight and has a poor appetite. She has been increasingly short of breath over the past few weeks and sees her GP for advice. She is found to have clubbing and appears pale. Her chest is clear and her abdominal examination unremarkable. Which one of the following diagnoses is MOST likely to account for these clinical features?
Carcinoma of the bronchus
Give some symptoms of lung cancer (6)
- Cough
- Haemoptysis (coughing blood)
- Dyspnoea
- Chest pain
- Pneumonias
- Loss of appetite and weight loss
Give some signs of lung cancer (5)
- Cachexia
- Clubbing
- Anaemia
- Lymphadenopathy
- Metastases
Give some clinical features of Horner’s syndrome (4)
- Enophthalmos
- Meiosis
- Ipsilateral facial anhydrosis
- Partial ptosis
What are some causes of Horner’s syndrome? (5)
- Vascular lesions of cortex/brainstem
- Cervical rib
- Lung cancer
- Thyroid
- Oesophagus
What changes in pigmented lesions of the kin would suggest malignancy? (6)
- Size
- Shape (irregular)
- Colour (variation)
- Erythema (at edge)
- Crusting, oozing, bleeding
- Itch
What are some cancer screening methods? (5)
- Chest radiograph
- Positron Emission Tomography
- Genetic analysis
- Cytology
- Biopsy
Give some risk factors of oral cancers
- Old age
- Male gender
- Tobacco
- Alcohol
- Sun exposure of lip
- Lichen planus
- Ionising radiation
- Immunosuppression
- Low socioeconomic status
- Infection (HPV, candida, syphilis)
What are some clinical features of oral squamous cell carcinomas? (6)
- Granular ulcer
- Indurated ulcer
- Red lesions
- White lesions
- Speckled lesions
- Lump
