cystic
forming large open spaces filled with fluid
fungating
mushrooming pattern of growth in which tumor cells pile one on top of another and project from a tissue surface
inflammatory
having the features of inflammation- that is, redness, swelling, and heat
medullary
large, soft, fleshy tumors
necrotic
containing dead tissue
polypoid
growths that form projections extending outward from a base
ulcerating
characterized by an open, exposed surface resulting from the death of overlying tissue
verrucous
resembling a wart-like growth
alveolar
tumor cells form patterns resembling small sacs; commonly found in tumors of muscle, bone, fat, and cartilage.
carcinoma in situ
referring to localized tumor cells that have no invaded adjacent structures
diffuse
spreading evenly throughout the affected tissue
dysplastic
containing abnormal-appearing cells that are not clearly cancerous.
epidermoid
resembling squamous epithelial cells (thin, plate-like); often occurring in the respiratory tract
follicular
forming a small glandular sacs
papillary
forming small, finger-like or nipple-like projections of cells
pleomorphic
composed of a variety of types of cells
scirrhous
densely packed tumors, due to dense bands of fibrous tissue
undifferentiated
lacking microscopic structures typical of normal mature cells
classify tumors
microscopic appearance (grade) and extent of spread (stage)
cauterization
destruction of tissue by burning
core needle biopsy
placement of a large-bore needle that extracts a thin core of tissue
cryosurgery
use of subfreezing temperature to destroy tissue
en bloc resection
tumor is removed along with a large area of surrounding tissue containing lymph nodes
excisional biopsy
removal of tumor and a margin of normal tissue
exenteration
wide resection involving removal of teh tumor, its organ of origin, and all surrounding tissue in the body space
fine needle aspiration
placement of a very thin needle inside the tumor mass and extracting cells for microscopic evaluation
fulguration
destruction of tissue by electric sparks generated by a high-frequency current
incisional biopsy
piece of tumor is removed for examination to establish a diagnosis
brachytherapy
implantation of small, sealed containers or seeds of radioactive material directly into the tumor or in a cavity of the tumor
electron beams
low energy beams for treatment of skin or surface tumors
external beam irradiation (teletherapy)
radiation therapy applied to a tumor from a distant source (linear accelerator)
fields
dimensions of the size of radiation area used to treat a tumor from a specific angle
fractionation
a method of dividing radiation into small, repeated doses rather than fewer large doses. Allows larger total doses to be given while causing less damage to normal tissue.
gray (Gy)
unit of absorbed radiation dose. The unit in use was rad (100 rad equal 1 Gy)
linear accelerator
large electronic device that produces high energy x-ray beams for the treatment of deep-seated tumors. Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) is direct application of radiation during surgery using a linear accelerator in the OR
photon therapy
radiation therapy using x-rays or gamma rays proton therapy
proton therapy
small subatomic positively charged particles produced by a cyclotron deposit all the energy at a focused finite point. Reduces the dose affecting normal surrounding tissues by at least 50%
radiocurable tumor
tumor that can be completely eradicated by radiation therapy. Usually is localized tumor with no evidence of metastasis. Ex: lymphomas, Hodgkin lymphoma, and seminomas of the testes
radioresistant tumor
tumor that requires large doses of radiation to produce death of the cells. Melanoma and renal carcinoma are examples
radiosensitive tumor
tumor in which irradiation can cause the death of cells without serious damage to surrounding tissue. ex: hematopoietic and lymphatic tumors
radiosensitizers
drugs that increase the sensitivity of tumors to x-rays. Many chemotherapy drugs sensitize tumors and normal tissue to radiation, improving the outcome of treatment
simulation
an imaging study performed before radiation therapy using CT scan or MRI to map the area to receive treatment. Required for all patients undergoing radiotherapy.
stereotactic radiosurgery
single large dose of radiation is delivered under precise 3D guidance (stereotactic) from multiple angles to destroy vascular abnormalities and small brain tumors
alkylating agents
these drugs cause crosslinks and breaks in DNA that interfere with cell division
antibiotics
these drugs are produced by bacteria or fungi and inhibit cell division by causing breaks in DNA strands
antimitotics
these chemicals block the function of a protein that is necessary for mitosis. Come from bacteria, fungi, or plants or animals found on coral reefs
hormonal agents
these drugs block hormone receptors on cells so that growth is inhibited
adjuvant chemotherapy
drugs are given after primary therapy (surgery or radiation)
anaplasia
loss of differentiation of cells; reversion to a more primitive cell type
antimetabolites
chemotherapeutic agents that block the synthesis of DNA components (nucleotides) and prevent cells from dividing
apoptosis
programmed cell death. Normal cells undergo apoptosis when damaged or aging. Some cancer cells have lost the ability to undergo apoptosis, and they live forever.
benign tumor
noncancerous growth (neoplasm)
carcinogens
agents that cause cancer; chemicals, drugs, radiation, and viruses
carcinoma
cancerous tumor made up of cells of epithelial origin
chemotherapy
treatment with drugs
combination chemotherapy
use of several chemotherapeutic agents together for the treatment of tumors
dedifferentiation
loss of differentiation of cells; reversion of a more primitive, embryonic cells type; anaplasia or undifferentiation
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
genetic material within the nucleus of a cell; control cell division and protein synthesis
differentiation
specialization of cells
encapsulated
surrounded by a capsule; benign tumors are encapsulated
external beam irradiation
radiation is applied to a tumor from a source outside the body
grading of tumors
evaluating the degree of maturity of tumor cells or degree of differentiation
Gray (Gy)
unit of absorbed radiation dose
gross description of tumors
visual appearance of tumors to the naked eye; cystic, fungating, inflammatory, medullary, necrotic, polypoid, ulcerating, or verrucous
immunotherapy
cancer treatment using immune cells and antibodies to kill tumor cells
infiltrative
extending beyond normal tissue boundaries into adjacent tissues
invasive
having the ability to enter and destroy surrounding tissue
irradiation
exposure to any form of radiant energy such as light, heat, x-rays
malignant tumor
tumor having the characteristics of continuous growth, invasiveness, and metastasis
mesenchymal
embryonic connective tissue. This is the tissue from which connective tissue arise
microscopic description of tumors
appearance of tumors when viewed under a microscope: alveolar, carcinoma in situ, diffuse, dysplastic, epidermoid, follicular, papillary, pleomorphic, scirrhous, or undifferentiated
mitosis
replication of cells; a stage in a cell's life cycle involving the production of 2 identical cells from a parent cell
mixed-tissue tumors
tumors composed of different types of tissue
modality
method of treatment, such as surgery, chemotherapy, or irradiation
molecularly targeted therapy
use of drugs to attack specific targets (mutations) that drive cancer cell growth
morbidity
condition of being unwell or deficient in normal funciton
mucinous
containing mucus (a thick whitish secretion)
mutation
change in the genetic material (DNA) of a cell; may be caused by chemicals, radiation, or viruses or may occur spontaneously
neoadjuvant chemotherapy
drugs are given before primary therapy (surgery or radiation) to reduce the size of a tumor
neoplasm
new growth; benign or malignant tumor
nucleotide
unit of DNA (gene) composed of a sugar, phosphate, and a base. The sequence or arrangement of nucleotides on a gene is the genetic code
oncogene
region of DNA in tumor cells (cellular oncogene) or in viruses that cause cancer (viral oncogene). Oncogenes are designated by a 3 letter name.
palliative
relieving but not curing symptoms
pedunculated
possessing a stem or stalk (peduncle); characteristic of some polypoid tumors
protocol
detailed plan for treatment of an illness
radiation
energy carried by a stream of particles
radiotherapy
treatment of tumors using doses of radiation; radiation oncology
relapse
recurrence of tumor after treatment
remission
partial or complete disappearance of symptoms of disease
ribonucleic acid (RNA)
cellular substance that represents a copy of DNA and directs the formation of new protein inside cells
sarcoma
cancerous tumor derived from connective or flesh tissue
serous
having the appearance of a thin, watery fluid
sessile
having no stem; characteristic of some polypoid tumors
solid tumor
tumor composed of a mass of cells
staging of tumors
system of evaluating the extent of spread of tumors. ex: TNM (tumor-node-metastasis)
surgical procedures to treat cancer
methods of removing cancerous tissue: cryosurgery, cauterization, en bloc resection, excisional biopsy, exenteration, fulguration, incisional biopsy
viral oncogenes
pieces of DNA from viruses that infect a normal cell and cause it to become malignant
virus
infectious agent that reproduces by entering a host of cell and using the host's genetic material to make copies of itself
alveol/o
small sac
cac/o
bad
-hexia
state or condition
carcin/o
cancer, cancerous
cauter/o
burn, heat
chem/o
chemical, drug
cry/o
cold
cyst/o
sac of fluid
fibr/o
fibers
follicul/o
small glandular sacs
fung/i
fungus, mushroom
medull/o
soft, inner part
mucos/o
mucous membrane
mut/a
genetic change
mutagen/o
causing genetic change
necr/o
death
neur/o
nerve
onc/o
tumor
papill/o
nipple-like
plas/o
formation
ple/o
many, more
polyp/o
polyp
prot/o
first
radi/o
rays
sarc/o
flesh, connective tissue
scirrh/o
hard
xer/o
dry
-blastoma
immature tumor
-genesis
formation
-oma
mass, tumor
-plasia
formation, growth
-plasm
formation, growth
-suppression
to stop
-therapy
treatment
ana-
backward
apo-
off, away
brachy-
short (distance)
epi-
upon
meta-
beyond, change
neo-
new
tele-
far