Neoplasia Lecture Practice Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the definitions, nomenclature, and clinical characteristics of neoplasia based on lecture notes.

Neoplasia

The process of new growth, often used interchangeably with the study of tumors.

Neoplasm

An abnormal mass of tissue, the growth of which exceeds and is uncoordinated with that of the normal tissue.

Tumor

A general term used to describe a neoplasm or a swelling.

Oncology

The study of neoplasms or tumors.

Benign Neoplasm

A neoplasm that grows as a cohesive, expansive, encapsulated mass and remains localized to its site of origin.

Malignant Neoplasm

Also known as cancer, a neoplasm that progressively infiltrates, invades, and destroys surrounding tissue and has the potential to metastasize.

Differentiation

The degree of resemblance of a neoplastic tissue to the tissue of origin; to change from relatively generalized to specialized.

Well-differentiated neoplasm

A neoplasm that closely resembles the tissue of origin; patients typically have a higher survival rate.

Poorly-differentiated neoplasm

A neoplasm that shows only a slight resemblance to the tissue of origin.

Anaplasia

A lack of differentiation characterized by cellular pleomorphism, hyperchromatism, and loss of architecture.

Pleomorphism

Variation in size and shape among cells and their nuclei.

Hyperchromatism

Intense staining of the nuclei, often seen in anaplastic cells.

Parenchyma

The proliferating neoplastic cells that make up one of the two components of a neoplasm and determine its name.

Supportive stroma

The component of a neoplasm consisting of fibrous connective tissue and blood vessels.

Desmoplasia

A condition where a neoplasm is dense and hard due to an abundance of stromal component.

Epithelioma/Papilloma

A benign neoplasm of non-glandular epithelial origin.

Adenoma

A benign neoplasm of glandular epithelial origin.

Carcinoma

A malignant neoplasm of epithelial origin, representing about $85\%$ of all human cancers.

Adenocarcinoma

A malignant neoplasm originating from glandular epithelium.

Fibroma

A benign neoplasm originating from fibrous tissue.

Fibrosarcoma

A malignant neoplasm originating from fibrous tissue.

Lipoma

A benign neoplasm originating from fat tissue.

Liposarcoma

A malignant neoplasm originating from fat tissue.

Angioma

A benign neoplasm originating from vascular tissue.

Angiosarcoma

A malignant neoplasm originating from vascular tissue.

Leiomyoma

A benign neoplasm originating from smooth muscle.

Leiomyosarcoma

A malignant neoplasm originating from smooth muscle.

Rhabdomyoma

A benign neoplasm originating from striated muscle.

Rhabdomyosarcoma

A malignant neoplasm originating from striated muscle.

Osteoma

A benign neoplasm originating from bone.

Osteosarcoma

A malignant neoplasm originating from bone.

Chondroma

A benign neoplasm originating from cartilage.

Chondrosarcoma

A malignant neoplasm originating from cartilage.

Sarcoma

A general term for malignant neoplasms of mesenchymal or connective tissue origin.

Leukemia

A malignant neoplasm of hematopoietic (blood cell forming) tissue origin.

Lymphoma

A malignant neoplasm of lymphoid tissue and lymphocytes.

Teratoma

Also known as a dermoid cyst, it is a neoplasm that does not fit standard nomenclature and contains various tissue types.

Invasion

The infiltration and destruction of surrounding local tissue by a neoplasm; a hallmark of malignancy.

Metastasis

The spread of a neoplasm to a distant anatomical territory through blood vessels, lymphatics, or body cavities.

Direct seeding

A pathway of metastatic spread occurring through the penetration of body cavities.

Lymphatic spread

A pathway of metastasis involving the role of lymph nodes.

Hematogenous spread

A pathway of metastasis occurring via arteries and veins.

Hyperplasia

A tissue change sharing features with neoplasia involving an increase in the number of cells.

Metaplasia

The transformation of one differentiated cell type into another.

Dysplasia

Disorderly but non-neoplastic proliferation of cells involving a loss of uniformity and architecture.

Cachexia

A systemic effect of malignant neoplasms characterized by the loss of fat and muscle, mediated by TNF.

Indigenous hormone secretion

The production of a hormone native to the tissue of origin by a neoplasm (e.g., insulin from a pancreatic neoplasm).

Ectopic hormone secretion

The production of a hormone by a neoplasm in a tissue that does not normally produce it (e.g., ACTH from a lung neoplasm).

Paraneoplastic syndrome

Syndromes in which symptoms mask an underlying neoplasm, often due to ectopic hormone production or cross-reacting antibodies.

Trousseau syndrome

A paraneoplastic vascular disorder involving thrombosis as a result of increased coagulation proteins induced by malignant cells.