Cellular pathology of cancer Flashcards
(32 cards)
Define metaplasia
A reversible change in which one adult cell type (usually epithelial) is replaced by another adult cell type
Define dysplasia
An abnormal pattern of growth in which some of the cellular and architectural features of malignancy are present
Describe what changes occur in dysplasia
pre-invasive stage with intact basement membrane
loss of architectural orientation
loss in uniformity of individual cells
What is the appearance of the nuclei and mitotic figures in displasia
nuclei: hyperchromatic, enlarged
mitotic figures: abundant, abnormal, in places where not usually found
Which tissues are dysplasia common in
Cervix - HPV infection Bronchus - Smoking Colon - UC Larynx - Smoking Stomach - Pernicious anaemia Oesophagus - Acid reflux
Define neoplasia
Tumour, malignancy
An abnormal, autonomous proliferation of cells unresponsive to normal growth control mechanisms
What features do benign tumours have that malignant do not
Does not invade or metastasise Encapsulated Usually well differentiated Slowly growing Normal mitoses
What could cause a benign tumour to be fatal
Being in dangerous place: meninges, pituitary
Secretes something dangerous: insulinoma
Gets infected: bladder
Bleeds: stomach
Ruptures: liver adenoma
Torts (twisted): ovarian cyst
What features do malignant tumours have that benign do not
Invade surrounding tissues Spread to distant sites No capsule Well to poorly differentiated Rapidly growing Abnormal mitoses
Define metastasis
A metastasis is a discontinuous growing colony of tumour cells, at some distance from the primary cancer
What does metastasis depend on
These depend on the lymphatic and vascular drainage of the primary site
Lymph node involvement has a worse prognosis
e.g. Colon:
What proportion are Dukes A or C
Dukes A - 90%,
Dukes C - 30%
What is a benign epithelial tumour
Papilloma or adenoma
What is a benign epithelial adenoma
Tumour of glandular epithelium
e.g. stomach, thyroid, colon, kidney, pituitary, pancreas
What is a benign epithelial papilloma
Tumour of surface epithelium
e.g. skin, bladder
What is a carcinoma
A malignant tumour derived from epithelium
Give some types of carcinomas
squamous cell
adenocarcinoma
transitional cell
basal cell carcinoma
Give an example of benign soft tissue tumours
Osteoma
What is a sarcoma
A malignant tumour derived from connective tissue (mesenchymal) cells
What is the nomenclature for sarcomas of fat, bone, cartilage, started and smooth muscle and nerve sheath
Fat = Liposarcoma Bone = Osteosarcoma Cartilage = Chondrosarcoma striated M = rhabdomyosarcoma smooth M = leiomyosarcoma Nerve sheath = malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour
What is leukaemia
A malignant tumour of bone marrow derived cells which circulate in the blood
What is a lymphoma
Malignant tumour of lymphocytes (usually) in lymph nodes
What is a teratoma
A teratoma is a tumour derived from germ cells, which have the potential to develop into tumours of all three germ cell layers:
ectoderm,
mesoderm,
endoderm
What are the differences in teratomas between sexes
Gonadal teratomas in males are all malignant
Gonadal teratomas in females are mostly are benign
