Tumour Pathology Flashcards
Stroma
connective tissue, fibroblasts, blood vessels, and immune cells surrounding a tumour
Hallmarks of Cancer
Evading apoptosis Self-sufficiency in growth signals Insensitivity to antigrowth signals Tissue invasion & metastasis Sustained angiogenesis Limitless replicative potential
Benign Tumour
Well-circumscribed, slow growth, no necrosis, non-invasive, no metastasis
Effects of Benign Tumours
Physical obstructive effects, haemorrhage, hormone production
Malignant Tumour Characteristics
Malignant Tumours are poorly circumscribed, show rapid growth, are often necrotic, invasive, and undergo metastasis. They directly invade locally via lymphatics, bloodstream, and through body cavities (transcoelomic)
Macroscopic Features of Benign Tumours
Intact Surface Exophytic Growth homogeneous cut surface circumscribed or encapsulated edge resemble tissue of origin minimal nuclear pleomorphism
Macroscopic Features of Malignant Tumours
Heterogeneous cut surface due to necrosis Ulcerated surface Endophytic growth Vascular permeation Irregular infiltrative edge
Cytological Features of Malignancy
High nucleocytoplasmic ratio Nuclear hyperchromasia Nuclear pleomorphism Abnormal chromatin structure Abnormal mitotic figures
Describe the histogenetic classification (By Grade) of tumours
Measures differentiation through grading by degree of resemblance to tissue of origin
Grade I: well differentiated
Grade II: moderately differentiated
Grade III: poorly differentiated
Grade IV: anaplastic
What do the letters of TNM staging stand for?
T = Tumour Size
N = Degree of Lymph Node Movement
M = Extent of Distant Metastases
Describe Duke’s staging system for colorectal cancer
A - confined to bowel wall
B - through bowel wall but no lymph node involvement
C - lymph nodes involved
D - distant spread
What is the nomenclature for a benign epithelial tumour?
Papillomas/Adenomas
What is the nomenclature for a benign connective tissue tumour?
Cell of origin + oma
What is the nomenclature for a malignant epithelial tumour?
carcinoma
What is the nomenclature for a malignant connective tissue tumour?
Sarcoma
