Tumours & Lymph Pathologies Flashcards
What are cells of the body bathed in?
Interstitial fluid
Where does the interstitial fluid leak out from?
It leaks out through capillary walls from blood cells
Where does the fluid return to and how?
Fluid returns into the bloodstream venously the remainder goes into the more permeable lymph capillaries forming lymph
What happens to the lymph as it passes through vessels?
Passes through various vessels of increasing size and nodes before return to the blood
What are the main functions of the lymphatic system?
Tissue drainage
Absorption of fats and fat-soluble products small intestine
Immunity
What does the lymphatic system consist of?
Lymph
Lymph vessels
Lymph nodes
Lymph organs (e.g. spleen and thymus)
Diffuse lymphoid tissue (e.g. tonsils)
Bone marrow
What are some Pathologies of the lymphatic system?
Disease and tumour spread
Lymphatic obstruction
Lymphoma
Splenomegally
What happens to the tumour fragments (malignant metastases) in the lymph capillaries?
It’s may enter a lymph capillary draining a tumour or if the tumour has eroded the lymph capillary wall cells then settle and multiply and the first (sentinel) lymph node if not phagocytised, each new site then becomes a new source of spread
How does infection spread in the lymph?
Infected material enters lymph vessels from infected tissue, phagocytoses is not effective and spreads from node to node then back into bloodstream
What is lymphedema?
Swelling of tissue where lymphatic drainage is obstructed
The size of the swelling depends upon the size of the vessel involed
What medical intervention takes place and why?
Surgery- removal of lymph nodes to e.g stop cancer spread which obstructs the flow of lymph
What is lymphadenitis?
Infection of the lymph nodes, nodes become inflamed and enlarge attracting large numbers of phagocytes
What happens if the immune response fails?
The infection causes abscesses and spreads further into the nodes and the blood which causes glandular fever (infectious mononucleosis)
How does lymphoma Spread?
When lymphocytes begin to multiply out of control of thing causing significant swelling
What are the two types of lymphomas?
Hodgkins and Non-hodgkins
What is Hodgkins?
It’s a progressive, painless enlargement of lymph nodes in a systematic method, usally first noticed in the neck. It is malignant cause is unknown and prognosis depends upon stage
What is Non-hodgkins
Occurs in lymphoid tissue and or bone marrow, classified according to the type of cell involved. Low meaning well differentiated and slow, intermediate and high-grade meanings poor differentiation and rapid spread
What is splenomegaly?
Enlargement of the spleen usually secondary disease
Acute and chronic infections via spread. congested with blood and phagocytes and swells
What are the two types of splenomegaly?
Circulatory and tumours
What is circulatory in splenomegaly?
Flow of blood through liver Impeded spleen congested with blood
What is tumours in splenomegaly?
Primary rare but affected metastasise here from other places common in both HL and NHL
What factors are used in grading the severity of cancer?
Size
Rate of growth
Extent of spread to surrounding tissues and/or organs
What does the TNM classification of malignant tumours signify?
T- describes the size of the primary tumour and whether it has invaded nearby tissue
N- describes nearby (regional) lymph nodes that are involved
M- describes distant metastasis. Spread of cancer from one part of the body to another
What is a staging of colorectal tumours?
A- Limited to mucosa
B1- extending into muscularis propria but not penetrating through it; nodes not involved
B2- penetrating through muscularis propria; nodes not involved
C1- extending into muscularis propria but not penetrating through it. Nodes involved
C2- penetrating through muscularis propria. Nodes involved
D- distant metastatic spread
Where does lymphoma Originate?
Anywhere on the body where lymph tissue is found e.g lymph nodes
What are lymph nodes?
Lymph nodes are a collection of lymphocytes and other immune System cells throughout the body
What are lymphocytes?
A lymphocyte is a form of white blood cells (leucocyte) with a single round nucleus
What is in a lymphocytes?
killer cells, T Cells, and B cells
