Pathology Flashcards
What are hyperplasia and hypertrophy?
Hyperplasia is an increase in cell number
Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size
In what kind of structures is hyperplasia most likely to occur?
Hyperplasia occurs in structures which are under hormonal influence
(it is a process which occurs in response to a stimulus)
Give some examples of sites in the body where hyperplasia occurs
Endometrium
Bone marrow
Thyroid
Prostate
Stomach
Why might G cell hyperplasia in the stomach occur?
May occur in response to long-term PPI use
Give some examples of sites in the body where hypertrophy occurs
Muscles
Heart
What is dysplasia?
Abnormal cell growth that hasn’t reached the basement membrane
Give some examples of dysplasia
DCIS
CIN (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia)
Adenomas (pre-malignant precursors to adenocarcinoma)
What is metaplasia?
Change from one mature cell type to another
Give some examples of metaplasia
Barrett’s oesophagus
Cervical transition zone (glandular to epithelial)
Bladder (transitional to squamous - occurs in response to infection and inflammation)
Squamous cell carcinoma in the lung
What does CGIN stand for?
Cervical glandular intraepithelial neoplasia
What is CIN I?
Low grade squamous abnormality of the cervix
What is CN III?
High grade squamous abnormality of the cervix
What are koilocytes?
Squamous cells which have been infected with HIV
Who gets ovarian cancer?
Older women - usually postmenopausal
What is the other term for trophoblastic tumours?
Choriocarcinomas
germ cell tumour of the ovary
What are histiocytes?
Macrophages which respond to foreign material
What conditions cause a high HCG?
Choriocarcionoma
Twin pregnancies
Molar pregnancies
Placental abruption
Which type of ovarian tumour may cause a high HCG level?
Choriocarcinoma
*this may even lead to a falsely positive pregnancy test
Molar pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of which cancer?
Choriocarcinoma
What is the treatment for molar pregnancy?
Removal
Methotrexate
Why is methotrexate used to managed molar pregnancy?
It is a folate antagonist. Folate is needed to make cells so it stops the molar pregnancy from developing further.
What are the 3 main groups of tumours which occur in children?
BONE
BLOOD
BRAIN
(e.g osteosarcoma, leukaemia and medulloblastoma)
Carcinomas are the most common tumours in older people. What type of malignancy are these?
Epithelial malignancy
How does HPV malignancy present?
Young non-smokers
Lump in the neck
Which lymph nodes do testicular malignancies spread to?
Para-aortic
What cancers spread to the axillary lymph nodes?
Breast cancer
Cutaneous cancers (e.g cancers on the skin of the arm)
Which cancers can spread pretty much anywhere and should therefore never be ruled out too early?
Melanoma
Prostate
Small cell lung cancer
Signet rings on pathology are indicative of which type of malignancy?
Adenocarcinoma
Which conditions may present with an asymmetrical swelling in the midline of the neck that moves on swallowing?
Thyroglossal cyst
Multinodular goitre
Thyroid cancers most commonly affect which sex and age range?
Women
Ages 20-40 (quite young)
A patient presents with a neck lump. On the pathology report there are follicular cells, colloid and lymphocytes. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Inflammatory process (e.g thyroiditis)
Follicular cells and colloid are normal findings in the thyroid!
Lymphocytes indicate an inflammatory process!
What is oncocytic change?
Cellular enlargement due to accumulation of altered mitochondria
It indicates an inflammatory process
Doesn’t = malignancy
Psammona bodies seen microscopically may be seen with which conditions?
Serous cystadenocarcinoma ovarian tumours
Papillary thyroid carcinoma
Papillary renal cell carcinoma
Endometrial adenocarcinomas
How does CMV present?
It is mostly subclinical/ asymptomatic
In people with immunosuppression or HIV it presents with chorioretinitis and proctitis
It can mimic EBV but typically doesn’t have the sore throat that EBV does
Who presents with symptoms due to CMV?
People who are immunosuppressed
E.g Crohn’s and UC patients on immunosuppressive drugs
E.g HIV patients with a low CD4 count
Why is it important to advise bed rest with EBV and to avoid sports?
There is a risk of splenic rupture
What medication is given for EBV?
Penicillin V
Why is EBV treated with antibiotics even though it is a viral condition?
Although EBV (glandular fever) may be the most likely diagnosis, there is a risk that the patient could have something like bacterial tonsillitis
Antibiotics are given to cover other possibilities
Why is a amoxicillin avoided in EMV?
It can cause a rash
In patients with vague IBD like symptoms, which condition is now often screened for?
Syphilis
