Disturbances of Cell Growth & Neoplasia – Core Vocabulary

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering disturbances of cell growth, tumor biology, classification, spread, specific benign and malignant tumors, carcinogenesis, and related clinical concepts from the BMS151 Neoplasia lectures.

Atrophy

Decrease in size and weight of an organ or tissue due to reduced cell size and/or number.

Physiological Atrophy

Natural shrinking of organs, e.g., ovary and breast after menopause, thymus after puberty.

Pathological Atrophy

Organ shrinkage from disease or disuse, such as muscle immobilization or ischemia.

Hypertrophy

Increase in size and weight of an organ caused by enlargement of existing cells.

Physiological Hypertrophy

Normal cell enlargement, e.g., pregnant uterus or muscles of athletes.

Adaptive Hypertrophy

Pathologic cell enlargement in response to increased load, e.g., LV hypertrophy in aortic stenosis.

Compensatory Hypertrophy

Hypertrophy of remaining tissue after partial loss, e.g., one kidney enlarging after the other is removed.

Hyperplasia

Increase in organ size due to rise in cell number.

Physiological Hyperplasia

Normal cell proliferation, e.g., breast and genitalia at puberty.

Hormonal Hyperplasia

Pathologic proliferation driven by hormones, e.g., endometrium with excess estrogen.

Irritation Hyperplasia

Cell increase after chronic irritation, e.g., lymphoid tissue post-infection.

Compensatory Hyperplasia

Bone-marrow expansion after hemorrhage.

Metaplasia

Reversible replacement of one mature cell type by another of the same germ layer.

Squamous Metaplasia

Conversion to stratified squamous epithelium, e.g., bronchus in smokers.

Intestinal Metaplasia

Gastric glands transform into intestinal-type glands near peptic ulcers.

Connective (Osseous) Metaplasia

Fibroblasts change into osteoblasts forming bone in scars or myositis ossificans.

Dysplasia

Disordered cellular proliferation with loss of uniformity and orientation; precancerous.

Carcinoma in Situ

Malignant epithelial cells confined above basement membrane; pre-invasive cancer.

Neoplasm (Tumor)

Autonomous new growth of abnormal cells forming a mass.

Benign Tumor

Neoplasm with localized, slow growth, non-invasive, non-metastatic behavior.

Malignant Tumor

Neoplasm with rapid, invasive growth and potential to metastasize; poor prognosis.

Intermediate (Locally Malignant) Tumor

Neoplasm that invades locally, rarely metastasizes, e.g., basal cell carcinoma.

Anaplasia

Lack of differentiation in malignant cells, showing pleomorphism and abnormal mitoses.

Metastasis

Discontinuous secondary tumor deposits spread from a primary malignant neoplasm.

Lymphatic Spread

Metastatic route via lymph channels, typical for carcinomas.

Hematogenous Spread

Metastatic dissemination through blood vessels, common in sarcomas.

Transcoelomic Spread

Seeding of body cavities, e.g., peritoneal spread of gastric carcinoma.

Transluminal Implantation

Tumor cells implant along hollow-organ lumens, e.g., renal pelvis TCC to bladder.

Extracellular Matrix (ECM) Invasion

Stepwise degradation and migration of tumor cells through basement membrane and stroma.

E-Cadherin Loss

Molecular change that loosens intercellular adhesion, aiding invasion.

Tumor Angiogenesis Factor

Tumor-secreted signal that promotes new blood-vessel formation.

Cachexia

Cancer-associated wasting with weight loss, weakness, and anemia; TNF mediated.

Paraneoplastic Syndrome

Symptoms due to tumor-derived products, not direct tumor mass effects.

Precancerous Lesion

Non-malignant condition with high risk of malignant transformation.

Leukoplakia

White mucosal patch regarded as precancerous, especially in oral cavity.

Papilloma

Benign exophytic tumor of surface epithelium forming finger-like projections.

Adenoma

Benign tumor of glandular epithelium.

Fibroadenoma

Mixed fibrous-glandular benign tumor, common in breast.

Cystadenoma

Benign glandular tumor with cystic dilatation of acini.

Leiomyoma

Benign tumor of smooth muscle; uterine fibroid.

Lipoma

Benign tumor composed of mature fat cells.

Fibroma

Benign tumor of fibrous connective tissue.

Chondroma

Benign cartilage tumor, often in hand bones.

Osteochondroma

Benign bone outgrowth with cartilaginous cap; exostosis.

Osteoid Osteoma

Small benign bone tumor causing nocturnal pain relieved by aspirin.

Myxoma

Benign tumor of primitive mesenchyme; classic site is atrial heart.

Schwannoma

Benign nerve-sheath tumor of Schwann-cell origin; encapsulated.

Neurofibroma

Benign peripheral-nerve hamartoma composed of nerve fibers and Schwann cells.

Basal Cell Carcinoma

Locally malignant skin tumor from basal epidermal cells; rarely metastasizes.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Malignant tumor of stratified squamous epithelium.

Adenocarcinoma

Malignant tumor of gland-forming epithelium.

Mucinous Carcinoma

Adenocarcinoma producing abundant extracellular mucin (colloid).

Signet Ring Cell Carcinoma

Poorly differentiated mucinous carcinoma with intracellular mucin displacing nuclei.

Transitional Cell Carcinoma (TCC)

Malignant tumor of urothelium; commonly papillary.

Sarcoma

Malignant tumor of mesenchymal origin.

Fibrosarcoma

Malignant tumor of fibrous tissue producing collagen.

Liposarcoma

Malignant adipose-tissue tumor; may be well-differentiated or pleomorphic.

Rhabdomyosarcoma

Malignant striated-muscle tumor; embryonal, alveolar, or pleomorphic types.

Leiomyosarcoma

Malignant smooth-muscle tumor; uterus and GIT common sites.

Giant Cell Tumor (Osteoclastoma)

Locally aggressive bone tumor with osteoclastic giant cells and neoplastic stroma.

Adamantinoma

Rare locally malignant tumor of mandible or tibia resembling odontogenic epithelium.

Malignant Melanoma

Highly aggressive tumor of melanocytes exhibiting radial or vertical growth.

Teratoma

Tumor containing tissues from all three germ layers, derived from totipotent cells.

Mature Teratoma

Benign, well-differentiated teratoma, often ovarian dermoid cyst.

Immature Teratoma

Malignant teratoma with embryonic tissues, frequent in testes.

Hamartoma

Non-neoplastic mass of disorganized but mature tissues native to the site.

Embryonic Tumor

Highly malignant tumor of embryonal remnants, e.g., neuroblastoma, Wilms tumor.

Proto-Oncogene

Normal gene that regulates cell growth but can become an oncogene after mutation.

Oncogene

Mutated or overexpressed proto-oncogene that drives uncontrolled cell proliferation.

Tumor Suppressor Gene

Growth-inhibiting gene; loss of function contributes to cancer (e.g., RB, p53).

DNA Repair Gene

Gene encoding proteins that fix DNA damage; defects allow mutations to accumulate.

Apoptosis Regulatory Gene

Gene controlling programmed cell death; alteration can promote survival of mutant cells.

Chemical Carcinogen

Cancer-causing chemical such as benzpyrene or aflatoxin.

Physical Carcinogen

Cancer-inducing physical agent, e.g., ultraviolet or ionizing radiation.

Oncogenic Virus

Virus capable of initiating cancer, e.g., HPV-16, HBV, HTLV-I.

Hormonal Promoter

Endogenous or exogenous hormone that promotes growth of latent tumor cells (e.g., estrogen).

TNM Staging

Cancer classification based on Tumor size, Node involvement, and Metastasis.

Tumor Grade

Histologic assessment of differentiation and anaplasia (Grades I–IV).

Krukenberg Tumor

Bilateral ovarian metastases, classically from gastric carcinoma.

Angioma

Benign vascular malformation containing blood or lymph vessels.

Hemangioma

Benign proliferation of blood vessels; capillary or cavernous types.

Lymphangioma

Benign lymphatic-vessel malformation, often in neck or tongue.

Carcinogenesis

Multistep process transforming normal cells into malignant ones via genetic alterations.

Radio-Sensitive Tumor

Neoplasm destroyed by low-dose radiation, e.g., malignant lymphoma.

Radio-Resistant Tumor

Neoplasm requiring high radiation doses with collateral damage, e.g., osteosarcoma.

Tumor Marker

Biochemical substance indicating presence or progression of a tumor.