Oncology Flashcards

1. Knowledge of oncology and nomenclature used 2. Familiar with various carcinogens associated with specific cancers 3. Knowledge of various cancer screening methods 4. Recall some of the clinical features of various common cancers 5. Have knowledge of signs and symptoms and classification of oral cancer 6. Knowledge of the role of radiotherapy, chemotherapy, palliative and terminal care in the management of patients with oral cancer

1
Q

Define oncology

A

Study of tumours = an abnormal mass of tissue, the growth of which is autonomous and exceeds the normal rate of tissues and persists after cessation of the stimulus

They are classified as benign or malignant

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2
Q

What two components are found in all tumours

A
  1. Neoplastic cells (dividing uncontrollably)

2. Supporting stroma (connective tissue, blood vessels which provide the nutrients needed for growth)

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3
Q

What are carcinomas

A

Epithelial neoplasms

  • squamous cell carcinoma
  • adenocarcinoma
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4
Q

What are sarcomas

A

Mesenchymal neoplasms

  • osteosarcoma
  • liposarcoma
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5
Q

Outline malignant behaviour of tumours

A
  1. Altered differentiation and anaplasia (poor cellular differentiation and loss of morphology and orientation)
  2. Rate of growth increased
  3. Local invasion eg. OSCC invasion through basement membrane into underlying CT
  4. Metastases (distinguishes between malignant and benign)
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6
Q

Which malignant tumours do not metastasise

A

ALL malignant tumours metastasise except

  • Brain tumours (as protected by BBB)
  • Basal cell carcinomas (can sometimes metastasise)
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7
Q

How does the spread of tumours occur

A

Through

  1. Body cavities
  2. Lymphatics
  3. Blood vessels (haematogenous)
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8
Q

How do bone and soft tissue tumours spread

A

Bone and soft tissue tumours (SARCOMAS) spread through blood system

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9
Q

How do melanoma, breast, lung and gastrointestinal tumours spread

A

through lymphatic system

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10
Q

What is transcoelomic spread and which cancers typically do this

A

This is the uncommon spreading of cancer within cavity of the gut/chest and occurs with mesotheliomas and ovarian carcinomas

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11
Q

What chemical carcinogens can cause lung cancer and mesothelioma

A
  • Aromatic hydrocarbons

- Asbestos

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12
Q

What chemical carcinogens can cause hepatocellular cancer

A

Aflatoxin-B1 (in decaying ground nuts)

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13
Q

What chemical carcinogens can cause gastric cancer

A

Nitrosamines and amides (food preservation salts)

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14
Q

What chemical carcinogens can cause bladder cancer

A

Azo dyes (Beta-napthylamine)

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15
Q

What chemical carcinogens can cause aplastic anaemia

A
  • Alkylating agents = potent immunosuppressants e.g. Cyclophosphamide
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16
Q

How does ionising radiation cause cancer

A
  • damages cellular genes resulting gene mutations
  • natural radiation, nuclear power radiation and medical testing radiations are ionising and can cause cancer
  • radiotherapy can also increase risk of further cancer development
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17
Q

What are the predisposing factors of BCC/SCC

A
  1. UV radiation (sun exposure in childhood)
  2. Skin type I/II (freckles and ginger hair)
  3. Arsenic
  4. Ionising radiation
  5. Burn/ vaccination scars
  6. Immunosuppression (azothiprine)
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18
Q

How does a BCC look

A

Small, shiny pink or pearly-white lump translucent/ waxy

Red, scaly patch with some brown or black pigment within the patch

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19
Q

How does a SCC look

A

Firm, red nodule due to fibrotic reaction occurring in the underlying tissue, it is a sore with a scaly crust that has rolled borders and central ulceration

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20
Q

Give an example of balanced translocation chromosome abnormalities predisposing patients to cancer

A

Philadelphia chromosome translocation from t(9;22) is associated with CML giving the fusion gene BCR/ABL with tyrosine kinase activity

Translocation from t(8;14) involving c-myc is indicated in Burkitt’s lymphoma

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21
Q

Give an example of point mutations predisposing patients to cancer

A

H-ras (Chemically induced changes indicative of bladder cancer)

22
Q

Give an example of deletions causing predisposition to cancer

A

Deletion of tumour suppressor gene Rb on chromosome 13q 14 (Retinoblastoma)

23
Q

What are the common symptoms of retinoblastoma

A
  • Leucocoria
  • Stabismus or squint
  • Ocular inflammation

This cancer can cause loss of sight

24
Q

Outline how HPV predisposes to cancer (DNA virus)

A

HPV 16/18 can cause squamous cell carcinoma of cervix and mouth

HPV 6/11 cause genital warts

25
Q

What cancers can be a result of EBV (DNA virus)

A
  • Burkitt’s lymphoma
  • Nsaopharyngeal cancer
  • B-cell lymphomas
26
Q

What cancers can be a result of HBV (DNA virus)

A

Hepato-cellular carcinoma

27
Q

What are the symptoms of lung cancer

A
  • cough
  • haemoptysis
  • dyspnoea
  • chest pain
  • pneumonias (recurrent/slowly resolving)
  • loss of appetite and weight loss
28
Q

What are the signs of lung cancer

A
  • cachexia
  • clubbing
  • anaemia
  • HPOA (Hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy) = specific clubbing and pain in joints of small fingers
  • lymphadenopathy (cervical)
  • metastases (brain)
  • complications e.g. bleeds and lung collapse
29
Q

What is Horner’s syndrome (HPAM)

A

Disruption of post-ganglionic SNS fibres causing

  1. Partial Ptosis (paralysis of levator palpebrae superioris)
  2. Anydrosis (ipsilateral due to superior cervical ganglion damage)
  3. Meiosis (unopposed parasympathetic activity causing pupillary constriction)
  4. Enophthalmous

Resulting from: Damage to vascular lesions of cortex/brainstem, Cervical rib, Cancer of Lung, Thyroid, Oesophagus

30
Q

What are the signs of colon cancer (both LHS + RHS)

A
  • Abdominal mass on palpation
  • Perforation (fluid within abdominal cavity may become infected)
  • Haemorrhage
  • Fistula (in long standing tumours e.g. epithelial drainage channel between colon and bladder is established, meaning there is faeces in the uric causing UTIs)
31
Q

What are the signs of colon cancer (LHS only)

A
  1. Bleeding/ mucus production on pre-rectal examination
  2. Altered bowel habit
  3. Obstruction
  4. Tenesmus (feeling of incomplete bladder emptying)
  5. Mass on pre-rectal examination
32
Q

What are the signs of colon cancer (RHS only)

A
  1. Reduced weight: cachexia
  2. Anaemia
  3. Abdominal pain
  4. Obstruction
33
Q

What is Hodgkin’s lymphoma

A

An enlarged painless, contender, rubbery superficial lymphadenopathy which typically presents as cervical lymphadenopathy and causes fever, weight loss, night sweats, pruritus

It can be caused by Pel-Ebstein fever and has alcohol induced pain

There is lymph node enlargement and obstruction

34
Q

Outline diagnostic features of malignant melanoma

A
  1. Increase in size
  2. Irregular shape outline
  3. Variation in colour
  4. Erythema at edge
  5. Crusting, oozing or bleeding
  6. Itching
35
Q

What are the different types of biopsy that can be taken

A
  1. Excisions = complete lesion removed with margin
  2. Incisional = cross-section wedge when lesion is too large to excise
  3. Shave = superficial portion of dermis removed (benign)
  4. Punch = multiple biopsies taken for extensive sampling
36
Q

What type of tumour is this marker indicative of :

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)

A

Colon
Pancreas
Stomach
Breast

37
Q

What type of tumour is this marker indicative of :

Alpha-feoprotein (AFP)

A

Liver
Testicular
Germ cell cancers

38
Q

What type of tumour is this marker indicative of :

CA125

A

Ovarian cancer

39
Q

What type of tumour is this marker indicative of :

Prostate specific antigen (PSA)

A

Prostate cancer

40
Q

Where are the high risk areas for OSCC and why

A

Lateral sides of mouth and tongue
Floor of mouth
Lingual gingivae

This is because pooling of carcinogens can occur here

41
Q

What are the risk factors of OSCC

A
  • Age, Male
  • Tobacco, alcohol, betel use (paan)
  • Sun exposure (lip)
  • Lichen Planus
  • Ionising radiation
  • Immunosuppression
  • Low socioeconomic status
  • Infection with HPV, Candida or syphilis
42
Q

Outline oral effects of Betel chewing

A
  1. Occlusal tooth surface wear
  2. Betel chewer’s mucosa = born/red discolouration, tenacious quid particles, tendency to desquamation and peeling, epithelial hyperplasia and amorphous deposits of calcium granules
  3. Lichenoid reaction
  4. Oral precancerous lesions and malignancy: erythroleukoplakia, oral sub mucous fibrosis
43
Q

List other malignant oral neoplasms

A
  1. Epithelial
    - melanoma
    - maxillary antra carcinoma
    - glandular carcinoma
    - intra-bony carcinoma
  2. Sarcoma
    - osteosarcoma
    - rhabdomyosarcoma
    - kaposi sarcoma
  3. Secondary carcinomas
    - within lymph nodes/ bone metastasis
  4. Lymphoreticular neoplasms
  5. Lymphomas
44
Q

What are the clinical features of OSCC

A
  • Glandular ulcer with fissuring/ raised exophytic margins
  • Red lesion (erythroplakia)
  • White lesions (leukoplakia)
  • Mixed red and white speckled lesions
  • Indurated ulcer (fixed lesion to underlying tissue/ overlying skin mucosa)
  • Lumps
45
Q

What is the dental relevance of OSCC

A
  • Non-healing extraction sockets
  • Lymph node enlargement
  • Pain/ numbness
  • Loose tooth
  • Dysphagia
  • Weight loss
  • Ear pain
46
Q

Where are the common locations of OSCC

A

Lips, lateral border of tongue, floor of mouth

Buccal mucosa/ commissure region in paan or betel quid chewers

Reverse smokers may develop carcinoma of palate

47
Q

What is the difference between non-neoplastic and neoplastic tumours

A

Neoplastic tumours continue proliferating after cessation of the stimulus that initiated change

48
Q

What type of cancer can be caused by gene amplification

A

Neuroblastoma

49
Q

What cancer can result form HTLV-1 (RNA virus)

A

Human T-cell Leukaemia Virus type-1 can cause Leukaemia and lymphoma

50
Q

How can cancer biopsy be investigated

A
  1. Lesional biopsy
  2. Fine needle aspiration
  3. Imaging
51
Q

Outline oral complications of radiotherapy

A
W1 = Nausea + vomitting
W2 = Mucositis, taste changes
W3 = Dry mouth 
< = Infections, caries, pulp pain/necrosis, tooth hypersensitivity, truisms, osteoradionecrosis, craniofacial defects