Pathology

Signs

Measurable disease manifestations - objective

Symptoms

Feelings that the patient describes - subjective

Asymptomatic

Without disease manifestations

Diagnosis

Identification of a disease process

Etiology

Study of the cause of the disease

Idiopathic

Underlying cause is unknown

Prognosis

Probable patient outcome

Syndrome

Linked combination of signs and symptoms

Iatrogenic

Disease cause by the physician or treatment

Nosocomial Infections

Contracted from the care facility

Community-acuired infections

Contracted from a public space

Inflammation

Initial response of the tissue to local injury

Permeable membrane

Allows fluids and cells to pass from one tissue to another tissue

Granulation Tissue

Fibrous scar replaces destroyed tissue

Pyogenic bateria

Pus (dead white blood cells)

Abcess

Localized, usually encapsulated, collection of fluid

Bacteremia

Potential involvement of other organs and tissues in the body by organisms invading the blood vessels

Edema

Accumulation of abnormal amounts of fluid in the intercellular tissues spaces or body cavities

Anasarca

Generalized edema that occurs with pronounced swelling of subcutaneous tissues throughout the body

Elephantiasis

Localized lymphatic obstruction resulting in localized edema

Ischemia

Interference of blood supply to an organ, depriving cells and tissues of oxygen and nutrients

Infarct

Localized area of ischemic necrosis, produced by occlusion of either arterial supply or venous drainage

Hemorrhage

Rupture of a blood vessel

Hematoma

Accumulation of blood trapped within body tissues

Atrophy

Reduction in the size or number of cells in an organ or tissues, with a corresponding decrease in function

Hypertrophy

Increase in the size of the cells of a tissue or organ in response to a demand for increased function

Hyperplasia

Increase in the number of cells in a tissue or organ

Dysplasia

Loss of uniformity of individual cells and their architectural orientation

Neoplasia

Ungoverned abnormal proliferation of cells

Oncology

Study of neoplasms (tumors)

Benign

A growth that closely resembles its cells of origin in structure and function (non-cancerous)

Malignant

Neoplastic growth that invades and destroys the adjacent structures

Metastatsize

Malignant neoplasms travel to distant sites

Carcinoma

Malignant neoplasms of epithelial cell origin

Anaplastic

Undifferentiated cell growth - without form

Sarcoma

Highly malignant tumor originating from connective tissue

Lymphatic spread

Major route of carcinoma to metastasize

Hematogenous spread

Malignant tumors that have invaded the circulatory system and travel as neoplastic emboli

Grading

Assessment of the aggressiveness or degree of malignancy - extensiveness of the tumor at the primary site

Graded 1-4

Staging

Presence or absence of metastases to lymph nodes and distant organs. Stages I-IV

Epidemiology

Study of determinants of disease events in given populations

Morbidity

Rate that an illness or abnormality occurs

Mortality

The number of deaths by disease per population

TNM System

T - Tumor size

N- Spread to nearby lymph nodes

M - Metastasis

Hereditary process

Genetic information contained in the nucleus of each cell passed on to the next generation

Autosomes

44 chromosomes other than X and Y

Dominant Genes

Always produce an effect

Recessive genes

Manifest themselves when a person is homozygous for the trait

Mutations

Alterations in the DNA that may become permanent hereditary changes

Antigen

Foreign substance that evokes an immune response

Antibody

Immunoglobulin responding to the antigen

Immune

Protected against antigens

Active Immunity

Forming antibodies to counteract an antigen by way of vaccination

Vaccine

Contact with dead or deactivated microorganisms to form antibodies

Toxoid

Treated toxin with antigenic power to produce immunity by creating antibodies

Anaphylactic Reaction

Hypersensitive reaction resulting in a histamine release

PPE

Used to prevent transmission of infectious agents

AIDS

Caused by the HIV virus

Hepatitis

Inflammatory disease of the liver

A&E - Food and water contaminated by feces

B,C,D - Bloodborne

Cystic Fibrosis

Hereditary disorder characterized by lung congestion and infection with thick mucous and malabsorption of nutrients by the pancreas

Additive, increased lung markings

Hyaline Membrane Disease

Lack of surfactant that creates a high surface tension which requires less force to inflate and maintain alveoli preventing atelectasis

Idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome (IRDS) in premature babies, c-section babies, or babies of diabetic mothers

Air bronchogram - airways stand out against atelectasis with fine granular appearance

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

Mucus clogs bronchioles making it difficult to breathe

Necrotic material and edema from infection cause bronchial obstruction

Additive, hyper-inflated lungs, diffuse interstitial lung markings

Croup

Viral infection in children that causes a barking cough

Inflammatory obstruction of the subglottic portion of the trachea

Steeple sign on AP soft tissue neck

Epiglottitis

Acute infection of haemophilus influenza causing thickening of epiglottic tissue and surrounding structures

Thumb-print sign on lateral soft tissue neck

Pneumonia

Acute lung inflammation resulting in accumulation of fluid in certain areas

Different types based on location and cause

Additive, possible air bronchogram sign

Alveolar (Pneumococcal) Pneumonia