tumour pathology and prognosis

Question 1

human chorionic gonadotrophin HCG

Answer 1

from tumours with trophoblast elements

Question 2

alpha fetoprotein AFP

Answer 2

liver cancer, germ cell tumours

Question 3

prostate-specific antigen PSA

Answer 3

from carcinoma in the prostate

Question 4

biopsy handling

Answer 4

• Fix in formalin solution for routine histology, special stains and immunohistochemistry.
• Fix in glutaraldehyde for electron microscopy.
• send fresh for cytogenetics, tumour genetics.

Question 5

diagnostic cytology

Answer 5

• examination of cells in tissue fluids or exfoliated from surfaces.
• May give a diagnosis of malignancy.
• Useful for screening- main example is cervical cytology programme.

Question 6

grade of tumour

Answer 6

• The degree of differentiation of tumour cells relative to normal tissue of origin.
• Variation in size and shave of constituent cells of the tumour (pleomorphism).
• The proportion of cells containing the mitotic figures (mitotic index)

Question 7

TNM staging system

Answer 7

• Based upon extent of local tumour spread, regional lymph node involvement and the presence of different metastases.
• Can be applied to many different types of tumour, although the specific criteria are different for each tumour site.

TUMOUR
NODES
METASTASES

Question 8

considering prognosis

Answer 8

• remission
• disease-free survival
• 5 yr survival
• 10 yr survival