Tumour Pathology Flashcards

1
Q

Another common name for a tumour?

A

neoplasm

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2
Q

What is cancer?

A

a malignant tumour

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3
Q

Benign glandular tumour

A

adenoma

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4
Q

Malignant glandular tumour

A

adenocarcinoma

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5
Q

Benign squamous tumour

A

squamous papilloma

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6
Q

Malignant squamous tumour

A

squamous carcinoma

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7
Q

Benign bone tumour

A

osteoma

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8
Q

Malignant bone tumour

A

osteosarcoma

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9
Q

Benign fat tumour

A

lipoma

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10
Q

Malignant fat tumour

A

liposarcoma

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11
Q

Benign Fibrous tissue tumour

A

fibroma

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12
Q

Malignant fibrous tumour

A

fibrosarcoma

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13
Q

What are tumours of the blood cells called?

A

leukaemia (only malignant tumours)

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14
Q

Lymphoid tissue tumours

A

lymphoma (only malignant)

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15
Q

CNS tissue tumour

A

astrocytoma

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16
Q

PNS tissue tumour

A

schwannoma

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17
Q

Germ cell tumours

A

teratomas

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18
Q

Features of benign tumours

A
  1. usually encapsulated
  2. non invasive growth pattern
  3. don’t usually result in death
  4. well differentiated
  5. function similar to normal tissue
  6. no metastases
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19
Q

Features of malignant tumours

A
  1. metastasise
  2. not encapsulated or have breached capsule
  3. poorly differentiated
  4. invasive growth pattern
  5. cells abnormal
  6. frequently cause death
  7. loss of normal function
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20
Q

Give 4 examples of differences between normal cells and cancer cells

A
  1. abnormal genetics e.g. loss of function of tumour suppressor genes, activation of oncogenes
  2. altered cellular functions - produce tumour related proteins
  3. abnormal morphology
  4. cells capable of independent growth
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21
Q

How can altered cellular function (structure) characterise the cells as being cancerous?

A

altered cell- cell adherence and altered cell-matrix adhesion could suggest they are more likely to metastasise
production of tumour related proteins

22
Q

Tumour related proteins are better known as tumour biomarkers. Give 3 examples of tumour biomarkers.

A
  1. oncofetal proteins
  2. oncogene products
  3. growth factors and receptors
23
Q

What are oncofetal proteins?

A

proteins that are general produced during foetal development but are also found in adults with certain types of cancers

24
Q

Give 2 examples of oncofetal proteins that can be identified as tumour biomarkers and the cancers they are indicative of.

A
  1. alphafetoprotein - hepatocellular carcinoma, testicular teritoma
  2. carcino-embryonic antigen - colon cancer
25
Q

Give 3 examples of growth factors and receptors acting as tumour biomarkers and identify the cancers they are indicative of.

A
  1. Her2 - have these receptors normally on breast tissue. Abnormality when there are more than normal as when activated can promote growth of cancer cells. Breast cancer.
  2. oestrogen receptors - normal in females but at elevated levels can promote the growth and development of cancers. Breast cancer
  3. Prostate specific antigen - higher levels than normal can indicate prostate cancer
26
Q

What abnormalities in appearance of cancer cells might you expect to find?

A
  1. cellular and nuclear pleomorphism- marked variation in shape and size
  2. mitoses present and often abnormal
27
Q

What two factors balance tumour growth?

A

apoptosis and angiogenesis

28
Q

How does angiogenesis contribute to growth of tumours?

A

more blood vessels to provide nutrients to tumour cells for growth

29
Q

Why does greater angiogenesis in tumours lead to a poorer prognosis for the patient?

A

more routes for metastasis

30
Q

How does apoptosis help balance tumour growth?

A

involved in response to chemo/radiotherapy
if tumour grows too quickly and not at the same rate as angiogenesis then there will not be enough nutrients for tumour growth to continue

31
Q

What factors can contribute to a cell metastasising?

A

increased matrix degradation by proteolytic enzymes

altered cell- cell and cell- matrix adhesion

32
Q

What are the 4 modes of spread of cancer?

A

trans-coelemic
blood
lymphatic
local

33
Q

What is the general progression of tumour invasion?

A

maligant tumour—- invasion into connective tissue—- invasion into lymph/ blood vessels

34
Q

Tumour metastasis via lymphatics

A

malignant tumour—-adherence of tumour cells to lymph vessels—invasion from lymphatics—invasion into lymph node— formation of metastasis in lymph node—- clinical evidence of metastasis

35
Q

Tumour metastasis via blood

A

malignant tumour—adherence of tumour cells to blood vessels—- invasion of blood vessel— invasion into tissue— formation of metastasis–clinical evidence of metastasis

36
Q

Transcoelemic spread

A

spread across body cavities

37
Q

What organs commonly show transcoelemic spread?

A
tumours of:
colon
lung
stomach 
ovary        COLS
38
Q

What are 4 common sites of metastasis?

A

bone
lung
liver
adrenal cortex

39
Q

Where are 4 uncommon sites of metastasis?

A

spleen
kidney
heart
skeletal muscle

40
Q

Where do breast tumours commonly metastasise to?

A

bone

lung

41
Q

Where do tumours of the prostate commonly metastasise to?

A

bone (Peanut Butter)

42
Q

Where do tumours of the colon commonly metastasise to?

A

liver (think Clever)

43
Q

What are the local effects of benign tumours?

A

pressure and obstruction

44
Q

What are 6 local effects of malignant tumours?

A

pressure
obstruction
effects of treatment
pain - as a result of pressure on nerves etc
bleeding - anaemia from destruction of small vessels, haemorrhage from destruction of large vessels
tissue destruction - ulceration/infection

45
Q

What are 4 systemic effects of malignant tumours?

A

effects of treatment
secretion of hormones - normal or abnormal
weight loss - cachexia
paraneoplastic syndromes

46
Q

What is a paraneoplastic syndrome?

A

rare disorder triggered by an altered immune response to an abnormal growth like a tumour

47
Q

What is ‘normal’ hormone production by tumours?

A

tumour produces hormone expected of organ tumour is on but has abnormal production/secretion

48
Q

‘Abnormal’ hormone production by tumours?

A

organ that does not normally produce that hormone is making it

49
Q

2 examples of inappropriate hormone secretions that are associated with lung cancer

A

ADH

ACTH

50
Q

What is one way you can detect cancer at a pre-invasive stage?

A

identification of dysplasia in epithelium

51
Q

What is dysplasia?

A

premalignant change in cells - no invasion