Uro-pathology Flashcards
What are the risk factors for kidney cancer?
Smoking, obesity, hypertension, unapposed oestrogen therapy, CKD
What is von hippel Lindau and what does it cause?
It is a hereditary cause of clear cell carcinoma in the kidneys. This is due to a germline mutation of the VHL gene involved with angiogenesis
How does kidney cancer present?
Presents with loin pain, haematuria, abdo mass
Non specific symptoms fever, weight loss, paraneoplastic effects and fatigue
How is diagnosis of kiidney cancer made?
Made through CT or MRI
What are the main forms of treatment for kidney cancer?
Mainly treated through surgery with or without biological therapies. Chemo and radiotherapies are not very effective.
Radical nephrectomy or partial nephrectomy is usually used
Which is the most common kidney cancer and how does it appear grossly?
Clear cell carcinoma is more common and appears as a yellow mass with some areas of haemorrhage. Histologically there are nests of cells with high vascularity.
How does papillary carcinoma appear histologically?
It has a branching pattern of fibrous tissue lined with malignant cells
What are t 1 - 4 for kidney tumours?
T1 <7cm limited to the kidney
T2 >7cm limited to the kidney
T3 Tumour extends into major veins or invades the adrenal gland
T4 Tumour invades beyond the Gerota’s fascia
What is an angiomyolipoma?
A common tubular sclerosis that is benign and composed of fat, vascular and smooth muscle elements
Where is the commonest site of urinary tract cancer?
In the bladder
What are the symptoms of a bladder carcinoma?
Similar to a UTI: pain, dysuria, haematuria, increased urinary frequency, urgency
How are bladder cancers diagnosed?
By cystoscopy
How are urinary tract cancers treated?
Treatment is usually surgery; transurethral resection, partial/radical cystectomy, urethrectomy, and nephrectomy. There can also be immunotherapy (BCG therapy) if the tumour is high grade and superficial
What are the three zones that the prostate is divided into?
The transitional zone surrounds the urethra and is where BPH commonly occurs
The central zone
The peripheral zone - malignancy commonly occurs here
How does BPH tend to present?
UTI, urinary retention and hydronephrosis
It is diagnosed by PR or ultrasound
