Chapter 3: Radiation Therapy Practices

Practice flashcards covering treatment sites, tumor classification, lymphatic drainage, and specific pathologies based on Chapter 3: Radiation Therapy Practices.

Circle of Willis

The main source of blood for the brain, made up of the internal carotid and vertebral arteries.

Blood-brain barrier (BBB)

A protection system for the brain where only lipid-soluble substances, such as alcohol, nicotine, and heroin, can pass; water-soluble substances like glucose and sodium require a carrier molecule.

Astrocytoma

The most common primary brain tumor in children.

Glioblastoma multiforme

The most common primary brain tumor in adults.

Lhermitte's sign

A clinical presentation of CNS tumors characterized by a sensation of electrical shock down the neck and into the extremities.

GTM

A grading system for tumors that stands for grade, tumor, and metastasis, ranging from $G1$ (well differentiated) to $G3$ (poorly differentiated).

Plummer-Vinson syndrome

A condition involving iron deficiency in females that is associated with oral cavity cancers.

Leukoplakia

An early sign of oral cavity cancer characterized by white patches in the mouth.

Node of Rouvière

Also known as the lateral retropharyngeal node, it is included in treatment fields but is difficult or impossible to reach in surgery.

Glottis

The true vocal cords of the larynx, located between the supraglottis and subglottis.

Parotid gland

The largest of the three pairs of salivary glands and the most common site for salivary gland cancer.

Delphian node

Also known as the anterior cervical node, it is part of the lymphatic drainage for the thyroid.

Tail of Spence

The portion of breast tissue that extends close to the axilla.

Cooper's suspensory ligaments

Connective tissue that extends throughout the breast to provide support.

Peau d'orange

A clinical presentation of inflammatory breast cancer where the skin appears like an orange peel, characterized by erythema, thickening, warmth, and hardening.

Batson venous plexus

A venous system through which breast cancer can spread to the skin.

Carina

The location where the trachea bifurcates, situated at the level of $T4$ to $T5$.

Pancoast tumor

A tumor located in the apex of the lung that causes shoulder and arm pain, muscle atrophy, and Horner syndrome.

Superior vena cava syndrome

A condition occurring when a tumor compresses the superior vena cava, making it difficult for the patient to breathe.

Oat cell

Another name for Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC), which is aggressive, connected with tobacco use, and has a high mortality rate.

Mesothelioma

A type of cancer that occurs in the lining of the lungs and is strongly connected to asbestos exposure.

Dysphagia

A common symptom of esophageal cancer meaning difficulty swallowing.

Skip metastasis

A spread pattern seen in esophageal and breast cancer where the disease involves higher nodes before some lower nodes.

Whipple procedure

Also known as pancreaticoduodenectomy, this surgery removes part of the pancreas, small intestine, and gallbladder to treat pancreatic cancer.

Islets of Langerhans

Cells in the pancreas that secrete endocrine hormones such as insulin and glucagon.

Kupffer cells

Specialized cells in the liver responsible for cleaning the blood.

Trigone

An area on the posterior wall of the bladder formed by the openings of the two ureters and the urethra where cancers are commonly found.

PSA (prostate specific antigen)

A screening test for prostate cancer with a normal range of less than or equal to $4\,\text{ng/mL}$.

Gleason grading

A grading system for prostate cancer ($1$ to $5$) that sums scores from two different locations in the prostate to determine differentiation.

Cryptorchidism

An undescended testicle, which is a condition that leads to an increased risk for testicular cancer.

FIGO

The staging system specifically used for gynecological cancers involving the endometrium, cervix, ovaries, vagina, and vulva.

Point A

A reference point in HDR treatment for cervical cancer located $2\,\text{cm}$ superior to the cervical os and $2\,\text{cm}$ lateral to the endocervical canal.

Diaphysis

The main shaft portion of a long bone.

Waldeyer's ring

A ring of tonsillar lymphatic tissue that surrounds the nasopharynx and oropharynx.

Reed-Sternberg cells

Giant, binucleate connective tissue cells whose presence in lymph nodes determines whether a lymphoma is Hodgkin's lymphoma.

B symptoms

A set of symptoms including fever, night sweats, and $10\%$ weight loss within six months, which generally indicate a worse prognosis in lymphoma.

Ann Arbor staging

The staging system most commonly used for Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, utilizing the diaphragm to divide stages.

Rhabdomyosarcoma

The most common soft tissue sarcoma found in children, occurring in skeletal muscles.

ABCD rule

A detection method for melanomas regarding assessment of Asymmetry, Border, Color, and Diameter (> 6\,\text{mm}).

Auer rods

Structures present in leukemic cells that specifically assist in the diagnosis of Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML).

Philadelphia chromosome

An abnormality in hematopoietic stem cells characteristic of Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML).

Total-skin electron beam (TSEB)

A specific radiation therapy treatment option used for Mycosis Fungoides.

Syngeneic BMT

A bone marrow transplant where the donor is an identical twin.

Keloid

A benign condition of uncontrolled growth of connective tissue (scar formation) that can be treated with low-dose radiation within $24$ hours of surgery.

AVM (Arteriovenous Malformations)

An abnormality where tangled arteries and veins are unable to transfer nutrients to vital organs, potentially causing seizures and hemorrhaging.

TD 5/5

The dose of radiation to healthy tissue that will cause a $5\%$ chance of complication within five years of delivery.