Session 8 Lecture Notes Flashcards
What is the definition of a tumour?
Any detectable lump or swelling
What are the two types of tumours?
Non-neoplastic eg an abscess
Neoplastic eg cancer is a malignant neoplasm
What is the definition of metastasis?
A malignant neoplasm that has spread from its original site of origin (primary site) to a new site (secondary site)
What is the definition of dysplasia?
A pre-neoplastic alteration in which cells show disordered tissue organisation
It is different to neoplasm because it IS REVERSIBLE
What is the main difference between dysplasia and neoplasm?
Neoplastic cells are NOT reversible whereas the dysplasia cell changes ARE
Are benign neoplasms cancerous?
NO only malignant neoplasms are cancerous
What is the main difference between the activity of benign and malignant neoplasms?
Benign neoplasms are confined to their primary site of origin whereas malignant cells can metastasis to secondary sites
What is the difference macroscopically between benign and malignant neoplasms?
Benign = have a pushing outer margin Malignant = irregular outer margin and shape and may show necrosis and ulceration
What is the difference microscopically between benign and malignant neoplasms?
Benign = cells are well differentiated ie they closely resemble the parent tissue Malignant = cells range from well differentiated to poorly differentiated (anaplastic) ie they have no resemblance to target tissue
As cells become more poorly differentiated what 4 changes are seen?
- Increased nuclear size and nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio
- Increased nuclear staining (hyperchromasia)
- More mitotic figures
- Increased variation in size and shape of cells and nuclei (pleomorphism)
What is pleomorphism?
Cells that vary in size and shape as well as different nuclei appearances
What is hyperchromasia?
Darkly stained nuclei
Grade is used to indicate level of differentiation. Is a high grade well or poorly differentiated?
Low grade = well differentiated
High grade = poorly differentiated
The modified bloom richardson grading for breast cancer looks at which 3 factors?
- Tubules
- Mitosis
- Nuclear pleomorphism
What does in situ mean?
The tumour is above the basement membrane