Week 4 - Testicular Cancer Flashcards
What is gynecomsatia?
Enlargement of breast tissue in men due to hormonal imbalance
(i) Where are the checkpoints in the cell cycle (1.5 marks)
AND
(ii) What are they monitoring (1.5 marks)?
3 checkpoints in cell cycle
G1-S (1/2 mark) transition that the cell organelles have been replicated and that the cell has enough organelles to divide. (1/2 mark)
G2-M (1/2 mark) transition that the DNA has been replicated appropriately and accurately. (1/2 mark)
Exit M (1/2 mark) phase transition that the chromosomes have attached to the mitotic spindle. (1/2 mark)
Alexi has to give informed consent before the operation for the consent to be valid.
What three things must be verified?
3 marks
· The patient must have capacity (Competence).
· The patient must be offered adequate information (Adequate Disclosure).
· The patient’s decision must be non-coerced/voluntary (Non-Coercion/Voluntariness)
Define gynecomastia?
1 mark
Benign enlargement of breast tissue in males (if enlarged breasts and no mention of this being in males then ½ mark)
Explain why self-examination of the testis is important for male health?
2 marks
It familiarizes a man with the normal size, shape, and weight of his testicles and the area around the scrotum. (1 mark)
This allows him to detect any changes from normal at an early stage. (1 mark).
How many testicular cases were diagnosed in 2011?
2200
In which age group is testicular cancer most common?
Young Men between 25-49 years
How many testicular cases were diagnosed in 2015?
2300
In which ethnicity is testicular cancer most common?
Caucasian
Which groups are more high risk for developing testicular cancer?
- Baby boys born with undescended testicles (3-5% of boys) - increases risk by 4-10x
- Baby boys born with an indirect inguinal hernia
- Family history of testicular cancer (family dad - 4-6x, brother 6-8x)
- Using marijuana - 70% more likely and linked to more aggressive testicular cancer
- Smoking (12 year pack history - twice)
- Height (190-194cm - twice, 195cm+ - 3x, less than 170cm - decrease risk by 20%)
Signs and symptoms of testicular cancer
A firm, usually painless mass or lump on the testicle (some cancerous masses can be painful - 25-50%)
Growth or swelling of the testicle
Abnormality in shape or consistency of one testicle compared to the other
Associated with abdominal pain occuring with above symptoms
Asymptomatic at presentation in 10% of cases
What are the 2 functions of the testes?
- Produce the male gametes or spermatozoa
- Produce male sex hormones - testosterone which stimulates the accessory male sexual organs and causes the development of the masculine extra genital sex characteristics
Name two roles of the lymphatic system
1 mark
Any 2 from
· It is responsible for the removal of interstitial fluid from tissues
· It absorbs and transports fatty acids and fats as chyle from the digestive system
· It transports white blood cells to and from the lymph nodes into the bones
· The lymph transports antigen-presenting cells (APCs), such as dendritic cells, to the lymph nodes where an immune response is stimulated.
What is mild bilateral gynaecomastia?
Enlargement of male breast tissue on both sides
What is an undescended right testicle?
‘As a child Alex had an undescended right testicle which had been repaired by an orchidopexy surgical intervention when he was 2 years old’
Testicle which hasn’t moved into the scrotum
What is an orchidopexy surgical intervention?
‘As a child Alex had an undescended right testicle which had been repaired by an orchidopexy surgical intervention when he was 2 years old’
Surgery to move the undescended testicle into the scrotum
What does variegated consistency mean? (describing the tumour)
‘On physical examination the GP finds a 4cm non-tender mass in the right testis, the temperature was normal, testicular sensations were absent on the affected side. When the GP used a light, the light did not pass through the mass and had a variegated consistency’
Has streaks, marks or patches of different colours
What does organomegaly mean?
Abnormal enlargement of organs
What is an homogenous intratesticular mass?
‘Alex has an ultrasound of his right testis, which shows a homogenous intratesticular mass with low echogenicity compared to the left testis’
Mass in the testicles that exhibits essentially the same physical properties at every point throughout the mass
What does low echogenicity
mean?
‘Alex has an ultrasound of his right testis, which shows a homogenous intratesticular mass with low echogenicity compared to the left testis’
A mass in the testicles which exhibits essentially the same physical properties at every point throughout the mass
What does radical orchiectomy mean?
‘The oncologist explains to Alex the examination findings and that it is likely that he has testicular cancer and that surgery is recommended. Alex underwent a radical orchiectomy of the right testis and retroperitoneal lymph node dissection’
Removal of one or more testicles
What is an retroperitoneal lymph node dissection?
‘The oncologist explains to Alex the examination findings and that it is likely that he has testicular cancer and that surgery is recommended. Alex underwent a radical orchiectomy of the right testis and retroperitoneal lymph node dissection.’
Removal of the retroperitoneal lymph nodes
What is a non-seminomatous germ cell tumour?
’ The histopathologists’ diagnose a Stage I nonseminiomatous germ cell tumour. Alex is given advice on testicular self-examination and is told that he will be followed by surveillance for a 1 year and that his prognosis is good.’
One of the main groups of germ cell tumours
These types of germ cell tumors usually occur in men between their late teens and early 30s.
A type of cancer that begins in cells that form sperm or eggs. There are several types (4) of nonseminoma tumors, including embryonal carcinoma, malignant teratoma, choriocarcinoma, and yolk sac tumor. These tumors are usually made up of more than one type of cancer cell. Although nonseminomas occur most often in the testicles or ovaries, they can occur in other tissues, such as the brain, chest, or abdomen. This happens when cells that have the ability to form sperm or eggs are found in other parts of the body.
What is the median age of diagnosis?
33
