chapter 19: cancer medicine

metastasis

spread of malignant tumors to a distant location

adenocarcinoma of the lung

solid tumor derived from epithelial tissue

fungating tumor

mushroom pattern of growth as tumor cells pile on top of each other

polypoid

includes sessile and pedunculated types of growth

carcinoma in situ

localized tumor growth

scirrhous-type tumors

hard densely packed tumor cells

staging a tumor

assessing the extend of the tumor spread

mutagenic

producing a change in the DNA of a cell

T1N2M0 notation

tumor is present with palpable regional lymph nodes and no metastases

mutation

inheritable change in a cell

oncogenes

genetic material that causes cancer

extenteration

wide resection of tumor and removal of surrounding tissue

fulguration

destruction of tissue by electric sparks

retinoblastoma

known type of inherited cancer

modality

method of treatment

radioresistant tumor

tumor requires large doses of radiation to produce death of cells

cauterization

treating tissue with heat

apoptosis

programmed cell death

adjuvant

assisting or aiding

linear accelerator

used in treatment of tumors with radiation

estrogen receptor assay

tests the concentration of hormone receptor sites in cells of breast cancer patients

staging laparotomy

wide surgical incision of the abdomen to detect disease

molecularly targeted therapy

use of drugs to attack specific targets that drive cancer cell growth

relapse

return of symptoms of disease

osteogenic carcinoma

cancerous tumor derived from bone

erythema

side effect of radiation therapy (redness of skin)

alopecia

side effect of chemotherapy or radiotherapy (hair loss)

fibrosis

side effect of radiation therapy to lungs (abnormal growth of connective tissue)

myelosuppression

hypoplasia of bone marrow

mucositis

inflammation of the inner lining of an organ