Session 8 Lecture 1

Question 1

Define neoplasm

Answer 1

An abnormal growth of cells that persists after the initial stimulus is removed.

Question 2

Define malignant neoplasm

Answer 2

An abnormal growth of cells that persists after the initial stimulus is removed AND invades surrounding tissue with potential to spread to distant sites.

Question 3

Define tumour

Answer 3

Any clinically detectable lump or swelling.

Question 4

What is cancer?

Answer 4

Any malignant neoplasm

Question 5

Define metastasis

Answer 5

Malignant neoplasm that has spread from its original site to a new non contiguous site.

Question 6

What is dysplasia?

Answer 6

Pre-neoplastic alteration in which cells show disordered tissue organisation.

Question 7

What is the main different between neoplasm and dysplasia?

Answer 7

Neoplastic - irreversible

Dysplasia - reversible

Question 8

What is a benign neoplasm?

Answer 8

Remaines confined to their site of origin and do not produce metastases.

Question 9

What is a malignant neoplasm?

Answer 9

Has the potential to metastasise.

Question 10

What does a benign tumour look like to the naked eye?

Answer 10

Grows in a confined local area and so have a pushing outer margin.

Question 11

What does a malignant tumour look like to the naked eye?

Answer 11

Have an irregular outer margin and shape and may show areas of necrosis and ulceration.

Question 12

Give an example of when a benign tumour an be very detrimental

Answer 12

If it is in the brain, it can compress and therefore affect certain areas.

Question 13

Define anaplastic

Answer 13

Cells with no resemblance to any tissue i.e. are very poorly differentiated

Question 14

Are benign neoplasm cells well differentiated or not?

Answer 14

Yes - well differentiated

Question 15

What happens to the cell with worsening differentiation?

Answer 15

Individual cells have increasing nuclear size and nuclear to cytoplasmic ration, increased nuclear staining, more mitotic figures and increasing variation in size and shape of cells and nuclei.

Question 16

What is hyperchromasia?

Answer 16

Increased nuclear stating usually due to increased DNA content.

Question 17

What is pleomorphism?

Answer 17

The variation in size and shape of cells and nuclei

Question 18

What do clinicians use the term “grade” for?

Answer 18

Use it to indicate differentiation

Question 19

What does ‘high grade’ mean?

Answer 19

Poor differentiation

Question 20

Compare the prognosis of a high grade to a low grade?

Answer 20

High grade - poor prognosis

Low grade - good prognosis

Question 21

What is dysplasia a precursor for?

Answer 21

Precursor to carcinoma in situ (stays in the basal membrane)

Question 22

What do mild, moderate and severe dysplasia indicate?

Answer 22

Indicate worsening differentiation

Question 23

What causes neoplasm?

Answer 23

Accumulated mutations in somatic cells

Question 24

What causes mutations?

Answer 24

Caused by initiator, which are mutagenic agents, and promotes, which cause cell proliferation.

Question 25

In combination, imitators and promotors result in……….

Answer 25

An expanded monoclonal population of mutant cells

Question 26

What is the process called ‘progression’?

Answer 26

A neoplasm emerges from this monoclonal population through a process called progression. This is characterised by the accumulation of yet more mutations.

Question 27

Describe briefly the process of neoplasm

Answer 27

Initiation, promotion, progression then neoplasm.

Question 28

What is meant by monoclonal?

Answer 28

A collection of cells is monoclonal is they all originate from a single founding cell.

Question 29

Are neoplasms monoclonal?

Answer 29

Yes

Question 30

What is lyonisation?

Answer 30

In early female embryogenesis, one allele is randomly inactivates in each cell

Question 31

What particular types of genes do genetic alterations affect?

Answer 31

Proto-oncogenes and tumour supressor genes

Question 32

What happens to photo-oncogenes when they are genetically altered?

Answer 32

They become abnormally active (when they are called oncogenes), favouring neoplasm formation.

Question 33

What happens to tumour suppressor genes when they are genetically altered?

Answer 33

They normally suppress neoplasm formation however they become inactivated.

Question 34

When naming a neoplasm, what type end in -oma?

Answer 34

Benign neoplasm

Question 35

When naming a neoplasm, what type ends in - carcinoma?

Answer 35

Malignant neoplasm