Pathology of Neoplasia Flashcards
What is a neoplasm?
This is an abnormal mass of tissue, the growth of which exceeds and is uncoordinated with that of the normal tissues and persists in the same excessive manner after cessation of the stimuli which evoked the change
What is the general suffix for benign tumours?
-oma
What is mesenchymal tissue?
A loosely organized, mainly mesodermal embryonic tissue which develops into connective and skeletal tissues, including blood and lymph
What is a chondroma?
Benign cartilaginous tumour
What is a fibroma?
Benign fibrous tumour
What is an osteoma?
Benign bone tumour
Give three examples of benign mesenchymal tumours
Chrondroma, fibroma and osteoma
Name four examples of benign epithelial tumours
Adenoma, papilloma, papillary cystadenoma and polyp
What is an adenoma?
A benign tumour forming glands
What is a papilloma?
This is a benign tumour which is an epithelial tumour with finger-like projections
What is a papillary cyst adenoma?
This is a benign papillary and cystic tumour that forms glands
Wha is a polyp?
This is a benign epithelial tumour that projects ABOVE the mucosal surface
What is the general name for a malignant mesenchymal tumour?
Sarcoma
What is a carcinoma?
A malignant epithelial tumour
What is a sarcoma?
A malignant mesenchymal tumour
What is an adenocarcinoma?
A malignant gland-forming tumour
What is a squamous cell carcinoma?
A malignant tumour with squamous cell differentiation
What is a hepatoma?
A malignant liver tumour
What is a melanoma?
A malignant skin tumour
Why is a seminoma?
A malignant testicular tumour
What is a lymphoma?
Malignant tumour of lymphocytes
What is anaplasia?
Where cells have poor cellular differentiation, they have lost the morphological characteristics of mature cells
What is pleomorphism?
Where there is variability in the size and shape of cells and/or their nuclei
What are the characteristics of anaplasia?
Pleomorphism (variation in size/shape of cells and/or their nuclei), abnormal nuclear morphology (hyperchromasia, high nuclear:cytoplasmic ratio, chromatin clumping and prominent nucleoli), increased mitotic rate and loss of cellular polarity
What is dysplasia?
The presence of cells of an abnormal type within a tissue (abnormal growth of cells), and this MAY give rise to the development of cancer
What is paraneoplastic syndrome?
These are a group of rare disorders that are triggered by an altered immune response to neoplasms
What is the cause of paraneoplastic syndrome?
This is where the immune system responds abnormally to a neoplasm by cross-reacting antibodies, production of physiologically active factor, interference with normal metabolic pathways etc.
