Pathology

Question 1

How do you examine a pathology pot?

Answer 1

• ORGAN:
  
  • Hollow/Solid
  • Presentation/ anatomic features/ normal organ parenchyma
  • Cut surface: sagital/transverse/coronal/open book
• DIMENSIONS:
  
  • Size of organ
  • Size of lesion (if present)
• DISTRIBUTION OF ABNORMALITY: Diffuse/multiple/solitary
• SIZE/SHAPE/BORDER/
  ANATOMICAL BOUNDARIES OF LIASION
• CUT SURFACE OF LESION:
  
  • Homogenous/ Heterogenous
  • Colour: yellow/brown/black/cream/verigated
  • Solid/ cystic/friable texture?
  • Border: demarcated/spiculated/defined
  • Haemorrhage/necrosis
  • Exophytic (growth outwards) or endophytic (growth inwards)
• DDx:
  
  • NEOPLASTIC vs NON-NEOPLASTIC
    
    • Neoplastic: beign or malignant
    • Non-neoplastic: Infectious/inflammatory/deposit/ harmatomas/congential/other

Question 2

Describe Breslow thickness and what it means for a patient?

Answer 2

The Breslow thickness, is defined as the microscopically measured veritcal depth of invasion of the tumour (melanoma) from the granular layer of the epidermis to its deepest part within the dermis or subcutaneous tissue.

Question 3

What are poor prognostic factors for melanoma?

Answer 3

• Ulceration
• High mitotic rate
• High dsyplasia