Tumour Pathology 3 Flashcards
Describe the local effects of benign tumours.
May cause obstruction or pressure effects a a result of their expansion.
This could be serious if it occurs in an enclosed space (such as within the skull).
Describe the local effects if malignant tumours.
May cause pressure or obstruction.
However because they are infiltrative, they can also destroy nearby tissue, usually leading to inflammation and its consequences (pain, swelling, loss of function.
Depending on what structures are adjacent to the tumour, this could also cause bleeding, infection and fractures.
Describe the local effects of tumours on the brain.
Confusion, coma, seizure.
Describe the local effects of tumours on the lung.
Haemoptysis, Dyspnoea.
Describe the local effects of tumours on the liver.
Jaundice, coagulopathy.
Describe the local effects of tumours on the colon.
Haemorrhage, constipation, diarrhoea.
Describe the local effects of tumours on bone.
Pain, anaemia, fracture
Describe the effects of tumours on the spine.
Paraesthesia, paralysis
Describe the systemic effects of cancer.
Cachexia
DVT
Paraneoplastic syndrome.
Define ‘cachexia’.
Cachexia (=bad condition)
Weakness/wasting due to muscle loss.
Can’t necessarily be fixed by increasing nutrition.
Excessive muscle loss (changes in metabolism).
Define ‘paraneoplastic syndrome’.
This refers to the situation where non-endocrine tumours produces a hormone inappropriately.
These hormones will have systemic effects.
Name some examples of paraneoplastic syndromes.
ADH (anti-diuretic hormone) causes the retention of water (and resulting hyponatraemia).
ACT H (adrenocorticotrophic hormone) will cause the adrenal gland to secrete excess cortisol.
PTH (parathyroid hormone) will cause hypercalcaemia.
Define ‘DVT’.
Deep Vein Thrombosis.
This can occur when tumours press on the vessel, causing stickier blood.
Describe the importance of cancer precursors.
Precursors of cancers allow for early detection of cancers and for them to be cured before the cancer becomes established.
Example: Colorectal cancer has a precancer “benign lesion” - adenomatous polyp.
Describe intra-epithelial neoplasia.
Intra-epithelial neoplasia = dysplasia.
All dysplasia are benign in the sense that they do not metastasise or invade.
However, they have the potential to turn malignant.
- Poorly regulated
- Disordered cell growth (precancerous)
- Doesn’t invade or spread
