Tumour pathology Flashcards
What are the two main components of a tumour?
Neoplastic cells and storm
What is the role of tumour stroma?
It provides structural support and includes connective tissue, fibroblasts, blood vessels and immune cells
How do neoplastic cells differ in behaviour from normal cells?
They grow autonomously and do not respond normally to physiological growth
What are the cellular components of tumour stroma?
- Fibroblasts
- Immune cells
- Endothelial cells
What non-cellular components are found in tumour stroma?
- EC matrix
- collagen
- other structural proteins
What are the key characteristics of benign tumours?
Well circumscribed, slow growth, non-invasive, no metastasis, no necrosis
What are the key characteristics of malignant tumours?
Poorly circumscribed, rapid growth, invasive, metastasis, often necrotic
Can benign tumours be clinically harmful?
Yes, due to space-occupying effects, obstruction, hormone production, etc.
What are the 4 main routes by which tumours spread?
- Local invasion
- lymphatic spread
- haematogenous spread
- transcoelomic spread.
Give an example of a tumour with a preferred metastatic site?
Prostate → bone
Breast → bone, brain, liver, lung.
What does the seed and soil hypothesis refer to?
Tumour cells (“seeds”) need a compatible environment (“soil”) to metastasize
What does tumour grading assess?
Degree of differentiation and resemblance to the original tissue?
What are the grades of malignant neoplasms?
I – Well differentiated
II – Moderately differentiated
III – Poorly differentiated
IV – Nearly anaplastic
What does tumour staging evaluate?
Extent of tumour spread (size, lymph node involvement, metastasis).
What is the TNM staging system?
T: Tumour size/invasion
N: Node involvement
M: Metastasis
What are the T stages?
Tis- Insitu , non-invasive
T1- Small, minimally invasive within primary organ site
T2 - Larger, more invasive within the primary organ site
T3 - Larger, and/or invasive beyond margins of primary organ site
T4 - Very large or very invasive spread to adjacent organs
What are the N stages?
N0 - No lymph node involvement
N1 - Nearby lymph node involvement
N2 - Regional lymph node involvement
N3 - More distant lymph node involvement
What are the M stages?
M0 - No distant metastases
M1 - Distant metastases present
What is the 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
Describe the nomenclature of common human tumours
- All end in –oma
- Benign epithelial tumours are either papillomas or adenomas
- Benign connective tissue tumours begin with term denoting cell of origin e.g. lipoma
- Malignant epithelial tumours are carcinomas
- Malignant connective tissue tumours are sarcomas
What is a benign squamous cell tumour?
Squamous cell papilloma
What is a malignant squamous cell tumour?
Squamous cell carcinoma
What is benign transitional cell tumour?
transitional cell papilloma
What is a malignant transitional cell tumour?
Transitional cell carcinoma
