Cancer Metastasis and Staging

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Questions and Answers

What is the characteristic age range for carcinoma?

Old age (above 45) (correct)

Middle age (30-50)

Young adults

Children and teenagers

What is the typical spread of sarcoma?

Early by blood (correct)

Late by blood

Early by lymphatics

Late by lymphatics

What is the characteristic consistency of sarcoma?

Soft fleshy (correct)

Hard and brittle

Firm to hard

Soft and squishy

What is the purpose of tumor markers in laboratory diagnosis of cancer?

To detect molecules associated with cancer in blood and/or tissues Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between carcinoma and sarcoma?

Type of tissue affected Signup and view all the answers

What is the histological characteristic of carcinoma?

Cells arranged in groups Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the study of neoplasms?

Oncology Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for a spontaneous abnormal new growth that is causeless and aimless?

Neoplasia Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a characteristic of neoplasia?

It grows at the expense of surrounding normal tissues Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for a malignant neoplasm?

Cancer Signup and view all the answers

According to the geographical distribution, which country has a higher incidence of stomach cancer?

Japan Signup and view all the answers

What is the method of spread of malignant tumors through the bloodstream?

Blood spread (hematogenous) Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe the degree of differentiation of tumor cells in relation to the original tissue?

Grading Signup and view all the answers

What is a risk factor for cancer?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe the extent of spread of cancer?

Staging Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the lack of differentiation of tumor cells?

Anaplasia Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a complication of a benign tumor?

Obstruction Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for a developmental tumor-like malformation?

Hamartoma Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe a wasting syndrome in cancer patients?

Cachexia Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a cause of death in cancer patients?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for a benign tumor of smooth muscle tissue?

Leiomyoma Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following microscopic features is NOT a criterion of malignancy?

Nuclei are small and hyperchromatic Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for a benign tumor of cartilaginous tissue?

Chondroma Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a characteristic of malignant neoplasms?

Rapid growing and invasive Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for a benign tumor of blood vessels?

Hemangioma Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a difference between benign and malignant neoplasms?

Benign neoplasms are well differentiated, while malignant neoplasms are not Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for a benign tumor of nerve sheath tissue?

Neurofibroma Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a characteristic of benign neoplasms?

Well differentiated Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Routes of Metastasis

Malignant tumors can spread through:
Direct spread
Lymphatic spread (e.g. carcinoma)
Blood spread (hematogenous) (e.g. sarcoma)

Grading and Staging of Cancer

Grading

Degree of differentiation of tumor cells in relation to original tissue
Depends on aggressiveness of cells and number of mitosis
Cancer classified as grades I to IV with increasing anaplasia

Staging

Extent of spread of cancer

Complications of Benign Tumors

Obstruction (e.g. larynx, CNS)
Cosmetic problems
May turn into malignant
May be functioning (e.g. secreting hormones)

Causes of Death in Cancer

Vital organs destruction (e.g. liver, brain)
Vital organ obstruction (e.g. CNS, urinary tract)
Malnutrition (e.g. GIT tumors affecting intake, digestion, and absorption of food)
Cachexia (a wasting syndrome)
Anemia (e.g. due to hemorrhage from ulcer)
Secondary bacterial infection (e.g. toxemia, bronchopneumonia)

Comparison between Carcinoma and Sarcoma

Carcinoma: malignant epithelial tumor, more common in old age, fungating, ulcerating or infiltrating, firm to hard consistency, less vascular, cells arranged in groups, spreads early by lymphatics, relatively better prognosis
Sarcoma: malignant mesenchymal tumor, less common in young adults, bulky mass, soft fleshy consistency, highly vascular, cells arranged singly, spreads early by blood, worse prognosis

Laboratory Diagnosis of Cancer

Gross appearance
Histological examination
Fine needle aspiration
Cytological smears
Immuno-histochemistry
D.N.A. analysis
Flow cytometry
Tumor markers (e.g. alpha fetoprotein in liver carcinoma)

Definitions and Nomenclature

Oncology: science of study of neoplasms
Neoplasia: an spontaneous abnormal new growth which is causeless, aimless and without limitations
Cancer: malignant neoplasm
Differentiation: the extent to which tumor cells resemble normal cells
Anaplasia: lack of differentiation
Hamartoma: developmental tumor-like malformation

Etiology and Predisposing Factors

Geographical (and race) distribution:
USA: more common in males (lung, colon, and prostate) and females (lung, breast, and colon)
Japan: more common in stomach cancer
Age: usually more than 55 years, but some tumors can occur in children
Hereditary factors: close relatives may get the same cancer
Acquired lesions: can lead to cancer
Chemicals: smoking, pollution, radiation, and parasites can increase cancer risk
Physical: ionizing radiation, ultraviolet rays (UVR), and heat can increase cancer risk
Hormones: estrogen and androgen can increase cancer risk
Viruses: hepatitis B virus can increase cancer risk
Nutritional: aflatoxin can increase cancer risk

Classifications

According to tissue of origin:
Epithelial tumors
Connective tissue tumors
Nervous tissue tumors
According to behavior:
Benign tumors
Malignant tumors

Differences between Benign and Malignant Neoplasms

Benign tumors: slowly growing, well differentiated, capsulated, less ulceration, hemorrhage, and necrosis, ↓mitoses and vascularity, no metastasis, not fatal
Malignant tumors: rapidly growing, poorly differentiated, not capsulated, marked ulceration, hemorrhage, and necrosis, ↑mitoses and vascularity, metastasis, fatal

Microscopic Criteria of Malignancy

Cells are of variable size and shape (pleomorphism)
Cells are abnormally arranged (loss of polarity)
Nuclei are:
Large
Hyperchromatic
With prominent nucleoli
With irregular nuclear membrane
With many mitotic figures

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Description

This quiz covers the routes of metastasis, including direct spread, lymphatic spread, and blood spread, as well as the grading and staging of cancer. Learn about the different types of tumor spread and how cancer is classified.