Tumours 1

Question 1

What is a tumour?

Answer 1

• abnormal cell growth/ mass of tissue
• uncoordinated growth (tumour grows on its own)
• autonomous (controls itself)
• irreversible growth/ change

Question 2

What two types of tumours are there?

Answer 2

• benign

- malignant

Question 3

What is malignancy?

Answer 3

Spreading of tumour to other body sites (invading and colonising other sites)

Question 4

What are the main factors which can lead to cancer?

Answer 4

Genetic and environmental factors (diet, exercise, smoking, drinking, diabetes, obesity and many more!)

Question 5

Why is classification of tumours important?

Answer 5

• for understanding tumour behaviour
• for determining prognosis (outcome)
• selecting the right treatment/ therapy

Question 6

What is classification of tumours dependent on?

Answer 6

• tissue of its origin

- tumour type (malignant or benign)

Question 7

What are the two broad types of epithelium?

Answer 7

1. glandular (found near organs and grands)

2. squamous (found in mouth, skin, oesophagus)

Question 8

what is the suffix for the benign tumour of the epithelial tissue?

Answer 8

“-OMA”- (e.g. adenoma for glandular or squamous papilloma for squamous)

Question 9

What is the suffix for the malignant tumour of the epithelial tissue?

Answer 9

CARCINOMA (E.g. adeno-carcinoma for glandular or squamous carcinoma for squamous)

Question 10

What is the suffix for the benign tumour of the connective tissue? (e.g. bone, fat or fibrous tissue)

Answer 10

“-OMA” (e.g. osteoma for bones)

Question 11

What is the suffix for the malignant tumour of the connective tissue?

Answer 11

SARCOMA (e.g. osteosarcoma)

Question 12

What is the malignant tumour of the white blood cells called? (there is no benign tumours)

Answer 12

Leukaemia

Question 13

What is the malignant tumour of the lymphoid tissue called? (there is no benign tumour)

Answer 13

lymphoma

Question 14

Concepts benign and malignant don’t apply to which tissue?

Answer 14

Neural tissue (there are different concepts surrounding it)

Question 15

What is the tumour of the CNS called?

Answer 15

astrocytoma

Question 16

What is the tumour of the PNS called?

Answer 16

schwannoma

Question 17

What are the the tumours of the germ cells (ovaries/testes) called?

Answer 17

Teratomas (which are composed of various tissues)

Question 18

What type of tumours are present in ovaries and testes?

Answer 18

Ovaries have usually benign teratomas

Testes have usually malignant teratomas

Question 19

What are the 4 main features of benign and malignant tumours? (GPIP)

Answer 19

1. growth pattern (how they develop)
2. presence of capsule
3. invasion
4. presence of metastasis

Question 20

What are some of the other features which are observed in benign and malignant tumours? (DAB F)

Answer 20

1. differentiation
2. Appearance of tumour cells
3. Behaviour
4. Function

Question 21

What are the main features of BENIGN tumours? (6)

Answer 21

1. non-invasive growth pattern
2. usually encapsulated
3. no metastasis
4. cells similar to normal
5. benign tumours are “well differentiated”
6. rarely cause death

Question 22

What are the main features of MALIGNANT tumours? (6)

Answer 22

1. invasive growth pattern
2. no capsule or capsule is breached by tumour cells (sometimes malignant tumours develop from benign)
3. often evidence of metastasis (spread)
4. cells look abnormal compared to adjacent tissue
5. cancer cells are “poorly differentiated”
6. frequently cause death