principles 2: pathology

Question 1

what is metaplasia?

Answer 1

reversible change in which one adult cell type is replaced by another cell type

Question 2

what is dysplasia?

Answer 2

abnormal pattern of growth in which some of the cellular & architectural eatures of malignancy are present
- pre-invasive stage with intact basement membrane

Question 3

what are the features of tissue dysplasia?

Answer 3

• loss of architectural orientation
• loss in uniformity of individual cells
• hyperchromatic + enlarged nuclei
• abundant, abnormal mitosis in places not usually found

Question 4

where in the body is dysplasia commonly found?

Answer 4

• cervix (HPV)
• bronchus (smoking)
• colon (UC)
• larynx (smoking)
• stomach (pernicious anaemia)
• oesophagus (acid reflux)

Question 5

what is the difference between low & high grade dysplasia?

Answer 5

high grade indicates higher risk of invasive cancer & reversibility is decreased

Question 6

what is neoplasia?

Answer 6

an abnormal, autonomous proliferatoin of cells unresponsive to normal growth mechanisms

Question 7

what are some features of benign tumours?

Answer 7

• do not invade & metastasise
• are encapsulated
• are usually well differentiated
• are slow growing
• have normal mitosis patterns

Question 8

when can benign tumours be fatal?

Answer 8

if they:

• are in a dangerous place eg meninges, pituitary
• secrete something dangerous eg insulinoma
• get infected eg bladder
• bleed eg stomach
• rupture eg liver adenoma
• tort (twist) eg ovarian cyst

Question 9

what are some features of malignant tumours?

Answer 9

• invade surrounding tissues
• spread to other sites
• no capsule
• well to poorly differentiated - rapidly growing
• mitose abnormally

Question 10

what is a metastasis?

Answer 10

discontinuous growing colony of tumour cells at some distance from primary cancer

Question 11

what does metastasis depend on?

Answer 11

lymphatic & vascular drainage of primary site

Question 12

what is papilloma?

Answer 12

benign tumour of SURFACE EPITHELIUM

eg skin, bladder

Question 13

what is an adenoma?

Answer 13

benign tumour of GLANDULAR EPITHELIUM

eg stomach, thyroid, colon, kidney, pituitary, pancreas

Question 14

what is a carcinoma?

Answer 14

malignant tumour derived from EPITHELIUM

eg squamous cell, adenocarcinoma, transitional cell, basal cell

Question 15

what is an osteoma?

Answer 15

benign tumour of SOFT TISSUE

Question 16

what is a sarcoma?

Answer 16

malignant tumour derived from CONNECTIVE TISSUE (mesenchymal cells)

Question 17

what are the types of sarcoma?

Answer 17

fat: liposarcoma
bone: osteosarcoma
cartilage: chondrosarcoma
striated muscle: rhabdomyosarcoma
smooth muscle: leiomyosarcoma
nerve sheath: malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour

Question 18

what is leukaemia?

Answer 18

malignant tumour of BONE MARROW DERIVED CELLS which circulate in blood

Question 19

what is lymphoma?

Answer 19

malignant tumour of LYMPHOCYTES (usually in lymph nodes)

Question 20

what is a teratoma?

Answer 20

tumour derived from GERM CELLS

- have the potential to develop into tumours of all three germ cell layers (ectoderm, mesoderm, endoderm)

Question 21

what is the difference between male & female teratomas?

Answer 21

in male all are malignant but in females most are benign

Question 22

what is hamartoma?

Answer 22

localised overgrowth of cells & tissues NATIVE TO ORGAN

• cells are mature but architecturally abnormal
• eg bile duct, bronchial