Sem 2 - Intersystems Flashcards
What does the presence of germinal centres suggest?
a humoral immune response is developing.
Briefly explain the main function of the red pulp of spleen
remove (via macrophages) old and abnormal red blood cells and particulate matter from the blood. Store platelets
Function of white pulp in spleen?
immunological screening of blood. immune respones to various circulating antigens develop here
normal 2 layers of cells in breast ducts?
outer myoepithelial cells (which form a discontinuous layer) and the inner (lining the duct) columnar secretory cells
Name and briefly explain the relevance of 5 important features of a tumour (and draining lymph nodes) to the prognosis and/or subsequent management of the patient that will be included in a pathology report.
Name 2 extra for carcinoma of breast
Specific tumour type: Different types have different behaviours and different risks of metastases.
Tumour grade: Reflects how quickly a tumour is likely to grow and metastasise. Higher grade = more aggressive.
Tumour size: Larger size = more likely for metastases to have already occurred
Lymphovascular invasion: If present indicates increased likelihood of metastases even if no metastases detected.
Nodal metastasis: Once metastasised cure is more difficult as can’t cure surgically - need alternative therapies to treat metastases.
Breast specific.
Oestrogen and progresterone receptors: If ER positive, tumour growth may be controlled with anti-oestrogen drugs.
Presence of HER2 amplification: If present, tumour growth may respond to herceptin.
Mrs AS, a 56 year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis of the small joints of the hands and also osteoarthritis of the left knee, had a 2.5cm ductal carcinoma completely excised. No metastatic tumour was found in the sentinal axillary lymph node, however, lymphovascular invasion had been identified histologically adjacent to the primary tumour. No distant metastases had been identified at the time of original diagnosis.
Ten years later she was found to have an obstructive picture on liver function tests and she died following an epileptic seizure.
If she was to have an autopsy, name and briefly describe, including the location, the macroscopic features of four (4) different pathological abnormalities that are present or are likely to be present in this patient.
Liver and brain metastases: Multiple pale, focally necrotic lesions with ill-defined (or well-defined) margins.
Rheumatoid arthritis: Nodules/villi of synovium +/- pale scar tissue in affected small joints of hands.
Osteoarthritis of L knee: eroded, fibrillated cartilage, bony outgrowths at edge of joint.
Rheumatoid nodules (common in rheumatoid arthritis): firm nodules over elbows
What name is given to the pathologic type of calcification which occurs in necrotic and degenerate cells?
dystrophic calcification
T/F Ductal (and lobular) carcinoma in situ frequently doesn’t cause a palpable mass
True
what function do melanocytes have in the skin?
protects keratinocytes from the mutagenic effect of UV light.
black pigment in the superficial dermis likely to be?
tattoo ink
What factors influence the timing of removal of sutures from skin?
Partly dependent on the vascularity of the area and mechanical stresses likely to occur in the area.
The key feature, however, is the time it takes for sufficient granulation tissue to form to hold the edges of the wound together.
“The section of skin shows an area of acanthotic epidermis with focal overlying parakaratosis and loss of the granular layer. The keratinocytes are disorganised, show reduced maturation, and they demonstrate enlarged nuclei and suprabasal mitotic activity. There is a chronic inflammatory cell infiltrate in the underlying dermis. There is no evidence of invasion into the dermis.”
4C.1 Based on the description, what is the basic nature of the process described?
dysplasia
