Tumour Pathology 1

Question 1

Define hyperplasia.

Answer 1

Cells increased in number.

Question 2

Define hypertrophy.

Answer 2

Cells increased in size.

Question 3

Define atrophy.

Answer 3

Atrophy is the decrease in size and/or number of cells.

Question 4

Define metaplasia.

Answer 4

Cells have changed from one cell type to another.

Question 5

Define “ectoderm”.

Answer 5

Means outside skin:
e.g. skin, neurons, melanocytes.

Question 6

Define “mesoderm”.

Answer 6

Means middle skin:
e.g. muscle, blood, bone, cartilage, endothelium, serous membranes.

Question 7

Define “endoderm”.

Answer 7

Means inner skin:
e.g. lining of airways, lining of gut, glands.

Question 8

Define “mucosa”.

Answer 8

Mucosa is the name given to subepithelial connective tissue.
It is densely collagenous.

Question 9

Define “neoplasia”.

Answer 9

Neoplasia is an abnormal growth of tissue, from uncoordinated proliferation.

Question 10

Describe some features of “benign” tumours.

Answer 10

“Benign” means disorder of cell growth
Grow slower
Smooth, encapsulated border
Smooth round shape
Well differentiated
Treated with surgery
Low chance of recurrence
Often good prognosis

Question 11

Describe some features of “malignant” tumours.

Answer 11

“Malignant” means cancer (malignant neoplasm = cancer)
Grow fast
Irregular border
Invasive locally and distant spread
Spiculate and asymmetrical shape
Poorly differentiated
Treated with surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy.
High chance of recurrence (if not fully removed).
Often bad prognosis

Question 12

Explain the difference between a malignant and a benign neoplasm.

Answer 12

Benign neoplasm doesn’t invade or metastasise.
Malignant neoplasm (cancer), spread and invade below the skin.

Question 13

Define “sarcoma”
(E.g. leiomyosarcoma, osteosarcoma).

Answer 13

A malignant neoplasm (cancer) of connective tissue,
leiomyosarcoma = cancer of smooth muscle,
osteosarcoma = cancer of bone

Question 14

Define “carcinoma”
(e.g. adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma)

Answer 14

Carcinoma is cancer of epithelial tissues,
adenocarcinoma = cancer of the glands
squamous cell carcinoma = cancer of the skin that originates in squamous epithelial cells.

Question 15

List some of the most common cancers.

Answer 15

Breast adenocarcinoma
Prostate adenocarcinoma
Lung squamous cell carcinoma
Lung adenocarcinoma
Colorectal adenocarcinoma
Melanoma
Lymphoma

Question 16

Define “lymphoma”.

Answer 16

Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system that causes mutations that cause the lymphocytes to start to multiply at an alarmingly rapid rate.