Lumps + bumps

Question 1

What features suggest infection?

Answer 1

rubor (redness)
dulor (pain)
tumor (swelling)
calor (hot)

Question 2

Define benign neoplasm

Answer 2

mass of cells that grow in an uncontrolled manner but does not have ability to invade local structures or spread to other parts of the body

Question 3

Define malignant neoplasm

Answer 3

cancer
mass of cells that grow in an uncontrolled manner and have ability to invade local structures and spread to other parts of the body
can kill host if growth + spread not controlled

Question 4

What is the typical history for a benign growth?

Answer 4

slow rate of growth
other long-term masses
painless
local pressure effects

Question 5

What is the typical history for a malignant growth?

Answer 5

fast rate of growth
other new masses/lesions
painful
local invasive effects
associated lumps
associated symptoms of metastasis/systemic spread

Question 6

What are the 6S’s of lumps and bumps examination?

Answer 6

site
size
shape
surface
substance (consistency - soft, firm, hard)
surrounding structures (local tissue, lymph nodes, nerves, blood vessels, other organs)

Question 7

Physical features of a benign tumour

Answer 7

well-defined
mobile
smooth
soft
no associated masses
capsule present
homogenous signal pattern (on imaging)

Question 8

Physical features of a malignant tumour

Answer 8

ill-defined
immobile
irregular
hard
associated masses (metastases)
associated organomegaly
associated decreased function of muscle, nerve etc
no capsule
invasion of local tissue
heterogenous signal pattern (on imaging)