Pathology

Question 1

Define Benign tumour

Answer 1

Benign tumour is a growth that

1) Remains at the site of origin
2) Does not invade adjacent tissues
3) Grows slowly compared to malignant tumours
4) Does not metastasise
5) Usually remains encapsulated within an outer tissue such as a connective tissue or epithelium

Question 2

Define Malignant tumour

Answer 2

Malignant tumour is a growth that

1) High rate of proliferation/cell division
2) Invades nearby tissues
3) Spreads to distant tissues by metastasis
4) Not encapsulated or contained
5) Poorly differentiated cells

Question 3

Adverse effects of malignant tumours

Answer 3

1) Erosion into deeper tissues or blood vessels
2) Mass effect (obstruction)
3) Distant spread
4) Secretion of hormones - eg) SIADH

Question 4

What factors contribute to tumour development?

Answer 4

Genetic
Environmental (eg. asbestos, sun)
Advancing age 
Life style (smoking)
Ethnic groups 
Radiation 
Certain viruses - HPV

Question 5

Cytological features of malignant tumours

Answer 5

Increased size of nucleus
Increased nuclear/cytoplasmic ration
Variation in size of nucleus and cell size
Poor differentiation or lack of differentiation
Increased nuclear DNA content with subsequent dark staining on haematoxylin and eosin staining
Irregular chromatins
Abnormal/increased mitoses

Question 6

Define Hypertrophy

Answer 6

Increase in size of individual cells resulting from increased work load or hormonal stimulation

Question 7

Define Hyperplasia

Answer 7

Hyperplasia is defined as the increase in the number of cells in an organ or tissue due to cell proliferation

Question 8

Define Metaplasia

Answer 8

Metaplasia is a form of altered differentiation characterised by the change of one mature differentiated cell type to another

Question 9

Define Dysplasia

Answer 9

disordered Cellular development characterised by pleomorphism and increased mitosis without invasion into the basement membrane