Oncology, Radiology and Infectious Diseases Flashcards
Define benign:
- not recurrent
- favourable for recovery
Referring to tumours (neoplasms) - slow growing
- encapsulated
- not invading the surrounding tissue
- differentiated e.g. they resemble the normal tissue from which they derived
- do not metastasise and are not an immediate threat
Define giardiasis:
- infectious disease
- caused by intestinal parasite (Giardia intestinalis)
Symptoms - gastrointestinal discomfort
- diarrhoea
- steatorrhoea (excessive fat in faeces)
- malabsorption
Define malignant:
- tending to become progressively worse and result in death
When referring to tumours (neoplasms) malignant means to have the following properties:
Anaplasia: A change in the structure of the cells, characterised by a loss of structural differentiation and a reversion to a more primitive or immature form. The cells divide rapidly and bear little or no resemblance to normal cells in appearance or function.
Invasion: The cells extend beyond the normal tissue boundaries and enter and destroy the surrounding tissue.
Metastasis (plural metastases): The malignant tumour spreads to other parts of the body. This occurs when a malignant tumour detaches itself from the primary tumour site, travels through the bloodstream and lymphatic system, and establishes a new tumour site or secondary tumour at a distant region within the body.
Define neoplasm:
- Literally means ‘new growth’
- An abnormal mass or growth that arises from normal tissue
- described by their behaviour they can be malignant, benign in situ or of uncertain behaviour
- neoplasms are called tumours
- not all tumours are neoplasms however
- tumour means ‘mass’ and can also refer to a fresh bruise or haematoma
Define herpes simplex:
- a viral infection caused by the herpes simples virus (HSV)
- causes small blisters on the skin of the lips or nose (type 1) or genitals (type 2)
- herpes can cause encephalitis
Symptoms include: - burning, tingling or itching sensations within 1 or 2 weeks after contact with an infected person
- may experience, mild fever, enlarged lymph nodes in neck
- the virus can be dormant for any period of time and reappear during other febrile illnesses or due to stress
Define chemotherapy:
- the treatment of illness by chemical means i.e. by use of drugs
-includes the treatment of cancer, certain infections diseases and other diseases - works by killing cells that are rapidly dividing
- also kills normal cells that are rapidly dividing such as hair, mucous membranes inside the mouth, bone marrow and epithelial lining of the digestive system which causes side effects
- unlike cancer cells normal cells can repair the damage and recover once the patient finishes receiving chemotherapy
Define candidiasis:
- cause by a yeast like fungus
- belongs to the candida family
- normally present in the mouth, skin, intestinal tract and vagina but doesn’t usually cause problems
- in immunocompromised people (pregnant, antibiotic users, corticosteroid users) it can overgrow and cause infection
- Characterised by pruritus (itching), a white exudate (seeping fluid), peeling and easy bleeding
- nappy rash, vaginitis, intertrigo (rash in body folds) and thrush are the more common forms of this infection
Define an excisional biopsy:
- removal of tumour and a margin of normal tissue
- this procedure provides a specimen that plays a key role in the diagnosis of cancer
- may be curative for small tumours
Define an allergy:
- hypersensitivity caused by exposure to a particular allergen
- they occur when a person is exposed to a sensitising agent (allergen)
- the immune system response to follows re-exposure to an allergen damages the body
- reactions vary from allergic rhinitis or hay fever to anaphylaxis
Define mycosis:
- a general term used to describe any fungal disease
Name the malignant bone tumour that arises in medullary (relating to the inner region of an organ, tissue, or structure) tissue: Note: it’s a common bone tumour in children and young adults:
Ewing’s sarcoma
Also known as B-cells, they mature into plasma cells and are concerned with the functional status of the humoral immune system:
Lymphocytes
Referring to localised tumour cells that have not invaded adjacent structures. Cancer of the cervix may begin as this type: (1 word with 3 parts - hyphenated)
Carcinoma-in-situ
Lung infection by Pneumocystis jirovecii which causes fever, cough, chest pain and sputum production. Common in AIDS patients: (2 words)
Pneumocystis pneumonia
Any disease with involvement of many systems. It need not be an immunological disorder: (2 words)
Multisystem disorder
