Pathophysiology of Malignant Neoplasia

Proliferation

cancer cells multiply.

Pressure

due to increase of size of neoplastic cell, pressing or pushing nearby nerves and blood vessels.

Obstruction

due to abnormalities; ex: colon - disrupting the excretion of waste.

Pain

due to pressure to the nerve ending and nociceptors.

Effusion

when lymphatic system is obstructive, there is accumulation of lymph in the affected area.

Ulceration and Necrosis

when the tumor erodes causing ischemia and erosion.

Vascular Thrombosis

tumor cells produce abnormal coagulation factors.

Anemia

cancer cells produce chemicals that interferes with RBC production.

Hypercalcemia

tumor cells produce parathyroid like hormones (e.g., bone cancer).

Edema

it makes membrane permeability increase and also effusion.

Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation

due to release of tissue thromboplastin of the cancer cells.

Anorexia

abnormal neoplasms would compete and derive the normal cells with nutrition.

Cachexia

protein and fat depletion in the body.

Anorexigenic Substance

produced by cancer cells; acts on satiety center (hypothalamus); no appetite to eat.

Tumor Grade

is an evaluation of the extent to which the tumor cells differ from their normal precursors.

Grades 1 & 2

the cells are well differentiated and deviate minimally from normal cells.

High Grades 3 & 4

cells are poorly differentiated and most aberrant.

Cancer Staging

is the process of determining the extent of disease as the basis for treatment decisions.

T

primary tumor.

N

involvement of lymph nodes.

M

evidence of metastasis.

TX

primary tumor or cannot be evaluated.

T0

no evidence of primary tumor.

Tis

carcinoma in situ (early cancer that has not spread to neighboring tissue).

T1, T2, T3, T4

size and/or extent of the primary tumor.

NX

regional lymph nodes cannot be evaluated.

N0

no regional lymph node involvement.

N1, N2, N3

involvement of regional lymph nodes (number and/or extent of spread).

MX

distant metastasis cannot be evaluated.

M0

no distant metastasis.

M1

distant metastasis.

Grading

degree of malignancy.

Staging

extent of spreading of cancer cells.