8. Methods of treatment of tumors - surgery

Question 1

3 main roles of surgery in cancer treatment

Answer 1

1. diagnosis and staging
2. therapeutic surgery
   a. curative
   b. palliative
3. prophylactic surgery

goal is to remove the tumor or the tumorous tissues/organs; most effective when cancer is localized or discovered early

Question 2

Types of diagnostic and staging methods

Answer 2

• aspiration cytology
• core needle biopsy
• incisional biopsy
• excisional biopsy

Question 3

What is aspiration cytology?

Answer 3

• sampled by smear or FNAB
• cells are not examined in their natural tissue environment but malignancy or benign nature can be identified

Question 4

What is core needle biopsy?

Answer 4

• uses a larger needle
• allows complete and detailed histological examination: histological type and tumor characteristics

Question 5

What is incisional biopsy?

Answer 5

• a small tissue sample is excised from a visible tumor for histological processing and identification
• only a fragment of the tumor is removed, the majority of it remains

Question 6

What is excisional biopsy?

Answer 6

• primarily for histological diagnostics, but can also attempt to remove the entire primary tumor
• if successful, both the diagnostic and therapeutic surgeries of the primary tumor were performed
• if unsuccessfull: secondary, radical surgery is required

Question 7

What is the purpose curative surgery?

Answer 7

complete removal of the tumor and complete recovery of the patient