Onco. 1.

Question 1

What cellular process does cancer affect?

Answer 1

Cell proliferation.

Question 2

What is cancer?

Answer 2

A loss of the normal control of cell proliferation.

Question 3

Why do cancerous cells continue to proliferate?

Answer 3

As they undergo genetic mutations/alterations.

This makes them unable to respond normally to the signals that control proliferation.

Question 4

What are the 6 hallmarks of cancer?

Answer 4

Self sufficiency in growth signals.

Insensitivity to antigrowth signals.

Ability to evade apoptosis.

Limitless replicative potential.

Sustained angiogenesis.

Capacity to invade tissues and metastasise.

Question 5

Will cancer be either localised or systemic?

Answer 5

It can be one or the other or both.

Question 6

What 3 things define localised cancer?

Answer 6

A measurable mass in 1 location.

Can be treated with local therapy.

May or may not metastasise.

Question 7

What 2 things define systemic cancer?

Answer 7

Widespread at the time of diagnosis.

A local tumour with high
potential to spread and metastasise systemically.

Question 8

What are benign tumours?

Answer 8

Clusters of abnormal cells that may compress but never invade surrounding tissues.

Question 9

What are malignant tumours?

Answer 9

Cells that possess the ability to invade surrounding tissues and spread to distant sites.

Question 10

Spindle cells are what kind of tumours?

Answer 10

Mesenchymal.

Question 11

What do spindle cells look like?

Answer 11

Single fusiform cells with a round to oval nucleus.

They do not have distinct borders and they have cytoplasmic tails.

Question 12

A sarcoma is made up of what cells?

Answer 12

Mesenchymal spindle cells.

Question 13

What do round cells look like?

Answer 13

Discrete cells with distinct borders.

Question 14

What are 5 tumours created by round cells?

Answer 14

Lymphoma.

TVT.

Plasmacytoma.

Mast cell tumour.

Histiocytoma.

Question 15

What are 2 tumours that are sometimes created by mast cells?

Answer 15

Malignant melanoma.

Basal cell tumour.

Question 16

What do epithelial cells look like?

Answer 16

Round to ovoid cells with a round nucleus.

These are sheet like groups of
keratinised cells with indistinct borders.

These cells often form clumps.

Question 17

What cancer cells may form ducts or acini?

Answer 17

Epithelial cells.

Question 18

What cancer cells for a carcinoma?

Answer 18

Epithelial cells.

Question 19

Do we use nuclear or cytoplasmic criteria to judge malignancy?

Answer 19

Nuclear.

Question 20

How many nuclear criteria is a good indication of malignancy?

Answer 20

3 or more.

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Question 21

What are the 8 nuclear criteria for malignancy?

Answer 21

Anisokaryosis or anisonucleoliosis.

Increased nuclear:cytoplasmic ratio.

Multinucleation.

Coarse chromatin.

Macrokaryosis or macronucleoli.

Increased or abnormal mitotic figures.

Nuclear moulding.

Angular nucleoli.

Question 22

What 3 general characteristics can be an indicator of malignancy?

Answer 22

Anisocytosis and macrocytosis.

Pleomorphism.

Hypercellularity.

Question 23

What does the acronym CHANG stand for?

Answer 23

Cyst.

Hyperplasia.

Abscess.

Neoplasia.

Granuloma.

Question 24

What are the 3 benign tumours?

Answer 24

Lipoma.

Histiocytoma.

Basal cell tumour.

Question 25

What abnormality can we use a FNA on?

Answer 25

Any mass.

Question 26

What does an FNA tell us?

Answer 26

If it is inflammation or neoplasia.

Question 27

Does an FNA tell us if something is benign or malignant?

Answer 27

No.

Question 28

When do we not do an FNA?

Answer 28

When there is bleeding. If there is a cavity. If there is seeding e.g. in a TCC.

Question 29

What are 2 reasons why we would we do an FNA with the syringe on?

Answer 29

To get negative pressure. | For masses with poor exfoliation.

Question 30

For what masses would we do an FNA with the syringe off?

Answer 30

Most masses.

Question 31

Do benign or malignant tumours have slow or fast growth?

Answer 31

Benign tumours grow slow. Malignant tumours grow fast.

Question 32

How do benign tumours appear on PE?

Answer 32

Soft and well encapsulated.

Question 33

What 3 things are seen on histopath in benign tumours?

Answer 33

Low mitotic rate. Uniform cell size. Well - differentiated cells.

Question 34

What suffix indicates a benign tumour?

Answer 34

Oma.

Question 35

What 2 things are seen on PE of malignant tumours?

Answer 35

Ill defined margins. Ulcerated and/or necrotic.

Question 36

What 3 things are seen on histopath in malignant tumours?

Answer 36

Necrotic. Infiltrative. High mitotic rate. Poorly differentiated.

Question 37

What suffix indicates a malignant tumour?

Answer 37

Carcinoma or sarcoma.

Question 38

What 3 things would indicate doing an incisional biopsy?

Answer 38

Change the treatment type Tumor in a difficult area. Change owners willingness to treat.

Question 39

What 2 things would indicate doing an excisional biopsy?

Answer 39

Treatment is not altered by the tumour type. Just as easy to remove en bloc as to do incisional biopsy.

Question 40

What kind of food can cause SCC in cats?

Answer 40

Canned food.

Question 41

What does TNM stand for on staging a tumour?

Answer 41

T: Size of primary Tumor. N: Assessment of regional lymph Nodes. M: Assessment of Metastasis.

Question 42

For what tumour should we check all body cavities for?

Answer 42

Hemangiosarcoma.

Question 43

For what tumour should we check regional lymph nodes and lungs?

Answer 43

Oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Question 44

What kind of carcinomas are found in the lymphatics?

Answer 44

Round cell, carcinomas.

Question 45

What is the route of metastasis for round cell carcinomas?

Answer 45

Regional lymph nodes Liver, spleen, mesenteric lymph nodes. Thoracic cavity lymph nodes.

Question 46

What is the route of metastasis for round cell hematogenous sarcomas?

Answer 46

Lungs.

Question 47

What diagnostic technique should we use for hematogenous sarcomas?

Answer 47

Thoracic radiographs.

Question 48

How does metastasis from lymph and blood circulation differ?

Answer 48

Lymphatic circulation usually produces metastasis to regional lymph nodes. Hematologic circulation usually produces metastasis to distant sites and organs.

Question 49

Which vets usually carry out staging and grading?

Answer 49

Staging = Clinician. Grading = Pathologist.

Question 50

What is the aim of staging?

Answer 50

To determine the extent of disease.

Question 51

How do we grade the mitotic index?

Answer 51

Number per 10 high power fields.

Question 52

What 4 histopathological characteristics are taken into account when grading a tumour?

Answer 52

Differentiation Mitotic index. Necrosis. Nuclear pleomorphism.

Question 53

What is the best therapy for cancer?

Answer 53

Surgery if possible.

Question 54

What do we need for surgery to be successful?

Answer 54

Complete margins.

Question 55

What are 3 things that would indicate a tumour should undergo radiation therapy?

Answer 55

Incomplete margins. Unresectable. Palliation.

Question 56

What are the 3 cancer commandments?

Answer 56

Do not let them hurt. Do not let them vomit or have diarrhoea. Do not let them starve.

Question 57

What are the 3 complications of chemotherapy?

Answer 57

Bone marrow (myelo) suppression. Alopecia. Gastrointestinal upset.

Question 58

When do the side effects of chemo kick in?

Answer 58

Gastrointestinal (3 -5 days later). Myelosuppression (7-10 days later).

Question 59

What are 3 anti-emetics that can be given to chemo patients?

Answer 59

Reglan. 5HT3. Mirtazepine.