Key Pathology Concepts and Disease Associations

Myocardial Infarction

Leading cause of death in the United States of America.

Atelectasis

Characterized by incomplete expansion of the lungs or collapse of previously inflated lungs.

Hiatal Hernia

Involves separation of the diaphragmatic crura & widening of the space between the muscular crura & the esophageal wall.

Wilson's Disease

An autosomal recessive disorder marked by accumulation of toxic levels of copper in many tissues & organs, mostly in the liver, brain, & the eye.

Sarcoma

A cancer of the connective tissue that usually spreads via the blood stream.

Carcinoma

A cancer of the epithelial tissue that usually spreads via the lymphatic system.

Neutrophil

Produced predominately by an inflammatory response to Salmonella.

Pneumocystis carni

The most common opportunist to infect AIDS patients.

Ankylosing Spondylitis

Presents with a positive HLA-B-27 & increased risk of deformity.

Toxic Megacolon

A complication of Ulcerative Colitis.

Krohn's Disease

Skip lesions are a characteristic of this disease.

Rheumatic Fever

Aschoff bodies are characteristic of this condition.

Duchanne's Dystrophy

Pseudohypertrophy is most common in this muscle disorder.

Respiratory

The most threatening effect of Guillian Barre is on these muscles.

Sjogen's Syndrome

Dry eyes & mouth are symptoms of this autoimmune disease.

Endothelial

Vascular tumors originate in this cell type.

Pyogenic Osteomyelitis

Sequestra frequently accompany this condition.

Increased Permeability of the Capillary Wall

The primary mechanism of inflammatory edema.

Aortic & Mitral Valves

The most common sites for cardiac valvular vegetations.

Lung

Coccidiomycosis most commonly affects this organ.

Pasteur

Considered the father of pathology.

Fibrous Capsule

This characteristic is least suggestive of malignancy in a growing tumor.

Mast Cells

Secrete both heparin & histamine.

Skeletal Muscle

Carcinoma is least likely to metastasize here.

Sjogen's

Affects both salivary & lacrimal ducts.

Aortic Valve

A common site for cardiac valvular vegetations.

Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia

This leukemia has the Philadelphia Chromosome.

Osteoporosis

Leads to decreased bone density.

Opthalmia Neonatorum

A female with gonorrhea may pass it via delivery by this condition.

Astrocytoma

Has the best prognosis.

Adenosarcoma

The most common malignant tumor of the intestines.

Mitral Valve

A common site for cardiac valvular vegetations.

It Cannot Return To Normal

Characteristic of a neoplasm.

Epithelium

Neoplasms are most commonly formed here.

Von Recklinghausen's

Multiple myofibromas & café au-lait spots are associated with this condition.

Anterior Horn

The part of the spinal cord most affected by myotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Pulmonary Stenosis & Right Ventricular Hypertrophy

Findings in a patient with tetralogy of fallot.

Thrombophlebitis

Describes venous inflammation & thrombus.

Right Side Heart Failure

Describes distention of neck veins, dependant edema, liver enlargement.

Scleroderma

Systemic fibrosis is seen in this condition.

Pneumocystic Carni

The organism most responsible for pneumonia in AIDS patients.

IgG & IgM

Immunoglobulins associated with a Type II response.

Left Side Heart Failure

A common cause of right side heart failure.

Pernicious anemia

Due to a lack of intrinsic factor.

Left Side Heart Failure

A condition where the left side of the heart cannot pump blood effectively.

Pernicious anemia

Is due to a lack of Intrinsic Factor.

Myasthenia Gravis

A disorder that affects the myoneural junction.

Giant cell arteritis

Involves the Temporal arteries.

Type IV immunity

Involves T-helper cells.

Presenile dementia

Is seen in Alzheimer's Disease.

Gonorrhea transmission

A female with gonorrhea may pass it to the child during Delivery.

CML

Leukemia involved with the Philadelphia Chromosome.

Galactosemia

A person with Galactosemia should avoid Lactose (milk).

Vitamin B12 deficiency

Pernicious anemia & lack of Vitamin B12 results in Spinal Cord Degeneration.

Pitting edema

Is caused by Congestive Heart Failure.

Edema of flanks & fatty changes

Are caused by Alcoholism.

Cyanotic condition

Is caused by Dextroposition of the Aorta.

Philadelphia Chromosome

Is a risk factor for Chronic Myelocytic Leukemia.

Sequestrium

Is a periosteal encasement of necrotic tissue.

Asbestosis

Patients with asbestosis are predisposed to Mesothelioma.

Sunburst reaction

A periosteal reaction described radiologically as a sunburst reaction is most common in Osteosarcoma.

Progressive Bulbar Palsy

Is a degenerative disease that affects the cranial nerve nuclei.

Neutrophil

Circulatory levels of Neutrophil increase during an acute inflammatory response.

Felty's Syndrome

Presents with chronic rheumatoid arthritis & splenomegaly.

Marie Strumpell's Disease

Is also known as Ankylosing Spondylitis.

Parkinson's Disease

Affects the substantia nigra of the basal ganglia & results in resting tremors.

Megaloblastic anemia

Is caused by Vitamin B12 deficiency.

Pyloric Stenosis

Is the most likely diagnosis for an infant who develops projectile vomiting in the 1st 3 weeks of life.

Hemangioma

Is the most common benign tumor of the spine.

Laryngeal Nerve Damage

Causes hoarseness associated with a carcinoma in the apex of the lung.

Histamine

Is produced in the cells & increases inflammation due to tissue injury.

Thyroid goiter

Causes Hyperplasia in a cell.

Graves Disease

Is the most common type of thyrotoxicosis in patients under 40.

Thrombus

The 4 steps associated with thrombus are 1. Dissolving, 2. Recanalization, 3. Obstruction, 4. Embolism.

Casious necrosis

Characterizes a lesion that has casious necrosis in the center surrounded by endothelial macrophages in TB.

Histamine release

Causes Vasodilation of Arterioles (redness) following cutaneous trauma.

Keloid

Occurs with Hypertrophic Enlargement of Scar Tissue.

Lipoma

Is classified as a benign neoplasm.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Is a systemic immune complex reaction.

Vitamin C deficiency

Most often affects Connective Tissue.

Wernecke-Korsakoff Syndrome

Caused by chronic alcoholism leading to B1 vitamin deficiency.

Lyme's Disease

Is characterized by a Bulls Eye Rash.

Kleinfelter's Syndrome

Is associated with XXY Chromosome Abnormality.

Osteoarthritis

Is the most common degenerative disease of the joints.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Is associated with Pannus Formation.

Post-infectious glomulonephritis

Is caused by Beta-Hemolytic Strep.

Entrapment neuropathy

Pregnant Females are most likely to have entrapment neuropathy of the median nerve.

Cardiac temponade

Is defined as Fluid in the Pericardial Space.

Bruton's

Is a primary immunodeficiency disease.

Hyperparthyroidism

Results in Osteopenia.

Collagen type at wound healing

Type of collagen found at the end of wound healing.

Osteopenia

A condition characterized by lower than normal bone density.

Type I collagen

Collagen found at the end of wound healing.

Type III collagen

Collagen found first (earliest) in a wound.

Type IV collagen

Collagen located in the basement membrane.

Magnesium deficiency

Results in tetani similar to that which accompanies hypocalcemia.

Alpha-fetoprotein

Elevated in a patient with a yolk cell tumor of the testes.

Tensile strength

The proteinaceous deposition of collagen in a healing wound.

Carcinoma In Situ

A cancer that has not invaded the basement membrane or the tissue of origin.

Superior Mesenteric Artery

Thrombosis & embolism of this vessel can cause a transmural infarction of the small intestine.