Tumour Pathology Flashcards
What is a tumour?
A neoplasm of neoplastic cells and stroma (CT, BV’s and inflammatory cells)
What is the behaviour of tumours?
Autonomous - which is where response to physiological stimuli is lost or abnormal allowing for unregulated growth.
What is stroma?
These aren’t the tumour cells but structures that surround the tumour.
What are the Hallmarks of Cancer?
Evading apoptosis, self-sufficiency in growth signals, insensitivity to anti-growth signals, tissue invasion and metastasis, limitless replicative potential and sustained angiogenesis
What are the characteristics of benign tumours?
Well circumscribed, slow growth, no necrosis, non-invasive, no metastasis.
What are the features of malignant tumours
Poorly circumscribes, rapid growth, often necrotic, invasive and metastasis.
What are some of the clinical effects of benign tumours
They have space occupying effects, they can cause haemorrhage and can produce hormones
How do malignant tumours spread?
Directly invade locally, via the lymphatics, via the bloodstream (haematological) or through body cavities (transcoelomic)
Where does prostate, lung, breast and ovary cancer most often metastasise to?
1) Prostate - bone.
2) lung - brain and adrenals.
3) breast - Lung, liver, bone and brain.
4) ovary - peritoneal cavity
What are the macroscopic features of benign tumours?
Sessile, pedunculated and papillary
What are the macroscopic features of malignant tumours?
Fungating, ulcerated or annular
What are some of the microscopic features of benign tumours?
Resemble tissue of origin, well circumscribed, well differentiated, minimal nuclear pleomorphism, mitotic features normal and no necrosis
What are some of the microscopic features of malignant tumours?
Variable resemblance, poorly circumscribed, variable differentiation, variable pleomorphism, may be anaplastic, abnormal mitotic figures and necrotic
What are some cytological features of malignancy?
High nucleo-cytoplasmic ratio, nuclear hyperchromasia, nuclear pleomorphism, abnormal chromatin structure and abnormal mitotic figures
Describe histological classification - Grade
It is based on the differentiation (resemblance to tissue if origin).
1) - Well differentiated.
2) moderately differentiated.
3) poorly differentiated
4) nearly anaplastic
Describe the classification of spread - Stage
TNM stage. T = Tumour size, N = degree of lymphnode involvement, and M = Extent of metastasis.
What is Dukes 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 are the benign and malignant names for a tumour arising from squamous epithelium?
B - Squamous cell papilloma.
M - Squamous cell Carcinoma
What are the benign and malignant names for a tumour arising from transitional epithelium?
B - transitional cell papilloma.
M - Transitional cell carcinoma
What are the benign and malignant names for a tumour arising from basal cells
B - basal cell papilloma
M - basal cell carcinoma
What are the benign and malignant names for a tumour arising from glands
B - Adenoma.
M - Adenocarcinoma
What are the benign and malignant names for a tumour arising from smooth muscle cells
B - Leiomyoma.
M - Leiomyosarcoma
What are the benign and malignant names for a tumour arising from striated muscle
B - Rhabdomyoma.
M - Rabdomyosarcoma
What are the benign and malignant names for a tumour arising from adipose tissue
B - Lipoma.
M - Liposarcoma
