Carcinoma vs Sarcoma

Flashcards comparing and contrasting carcinomas and sarcomas.

What type of tissue do carcinomas originate from?

Epithelium

What type of tissue do sarcomas originate from?

Mesenchyme

Which is the more common form of malignancy, carcinoma or sarcoma?

Carcinoma

What is the typical age range for carcinoma diagnosis?

Usually above 40 years

What is the typical age range for sarcoma diagnosis?

Usually below 20 years

Which generally grows faster, carcinomas or sarcomas?

Sarcomas

How are the margins of carcinomas described compared to sarcomas?

Often more infiltrative

How are the margins of sarcomas described compared to carcinomas?

Less infiltrative and more expansile

What is the typical size and consistency of carcinomas compared to sarcomas?

Usually less bulky and harder, but may be soft

What is the typical size and consistency of sarcomas compared to carcinomas?

Most sarcomas form bulky masses that are usually soft and fleshy.

How is distant spread of carcinomas described?

Usually slower than sarcoma and occurs early by lymphatics, then later by blood.

How is distant spread of sarcomas described?

Usually faster than carcinoma, occurring early by blood and rarely (10%) by lymphatics.

What does the 'T' in the TNM staging system represent?

Tumor state & size, graded as Tis, T1, T2, T3, & T4.

What does the 'N' in the TNM staging system represent?

The degree of spread to lymph nodes, graded as N0, N1, N2, & N3.

What does the 'M' in the TNM staging system represent?

Metastases due to blood spread, graded as 0 (absent) or 1 (present).

How is cellular anaplasia described in carcinomas compared to sarcomas?

Usually less marked than sarcoma.

What does histological differentiation depend on for carcinomas?

Arrangement of tumor cells

What does histological differentiation depend on for sarcomas?

Cell products (intracellular or extracellular matrix)

How is cell cohesion described in carcinomas?

Neoplastic cells exhibit variable grades of cohesion, often poor in anaplastic carcinomas.

How is cell cohesion described in sarcomas?

Is often absent and the tumor cells occur singly.

How are blood vessels described in carcinomas compared to sarcomas?

Blood vessels are less and better formed than in sarcoma.

How are blood vessels described in sarcomas compared to carcinomas?

Are more numerous and thin-walled.

How are hemorrhage, necrosis, and secondary changes described in carcinomas compared to sarcomas?

Usually less profound than in sarcoma.

How are hemorrhage, necrosis, and secondary changes described in sarcomas compared to carcinomas?

Are common.