Session 8 - Neoplasm 1 Flashcards
Define malignant neoplasm
Abnormal growth of cells which persists after the initial stimulus is removed AND invades the surrounding tissue with the potential to spread to distant sites
Define neoplasm
An abnormal growth of cells that persists after the initial stimuli is removed
Define tumour
Any clinically detectable lump or swelling
A neoplasm is a type of…
Tumour
A cancer is any…
Malignant neoplasm
What is a metastasis?
A malignant neoplasm that has spread from its original site to a new contiguous (non-related) site
Are tumours always neoplastic?
No, they can be either neoplastic of non-neoplastic
Do neoplasms always form lumps?
No, some can be liquid tumours, eg leukaemia
What is the original location of a neoplasm called?
Primary neoplasm
What is a secondary site of a neoplasm?
The place to which the neoplasm has spread
What is dysplasia?
A pre-neoplastic lesion in which cells show disordered tissue organisation and poor differentiation.
What is the main difference between neoplasia and dysplasia?
Dysplasia is reversible, neoplasia is not
How do benign neoplasm differ in behaviour from malignant?
Benign neoplasms are confined to the site of origin and do not produce metastases. Malignant neoplasms have the potential to metastasise
How do benign tumours look to the naked eye?
Local confined area with an outer pushing margin which is regular
When can benign tumours become dangerous?
When they are in areas which cannot compensate for them, or press against other structures eg the brain (space occupying lesion)
How do malignant tumours appear to the naked eye
Irregular margins and shape with areas of necrosis and ulceration.
Why does ulceration occur in malignant tumours?
Centre cannot get adequate blood supply and becomes necrotic, tumour breaks and necrotic tissue sloughs off with destruction of surface epithelial
How do benign tumours appear microscopically?
Well differentiated without invasion
How do malignant tumour appear microscopically?
Possible invasion of surrounding tissues/basement membrane. The differentiation can range from well to anaplastic.
How do cells of a malignant neoplasm appear as the differentiation worsens?
Increased nuclear size and increased nuclear-cytoplasm ratio
Hyperchromasia
More mitotic figures with increased mitosis (sometimes abnormal)
Pleomorphism
What is pleomorphism?
Cells which have increased variation in size and shape of cells and their nuclei, relative to each other.
What does the term ‘grade’ indicate?
How differentiated the cells within a tumour are
High grade tumours are…
Poorly differentiated
Low grade tumours are…
Well differentiated
What does the term anaplastic mean?
The cells of the tumour do not resemble any cell type.
How does dysplasia lead to neoplasia?
The cell organisation and differentiation passes the pint of no return, ie it becomes irreversible
What is an initiator?
Any mutagenic agent (intrinsic or extrinsic) which introduces a mutation into a cell
What is a promoter?
Anyang which promotes the proliferation of the mutated population