Basic Tumor Pathology

Definition - Neoplasm
• Abnormal mass of cells or tissue
• growth exceeds the growth of normal tissue
• growth is uncoordinated
• growth and proliferation remains same even after cessation of the
stimuli that evoke the change
 Basic Types of Tumours

Benign Malignant

Borderline
 Nomenclature

Benign Tumors – “oma” + cell in origin

Mesenchymal origin – Fibroma, Chondroma, Osteoma, Lipoma
Epithelial origin – Adenoma, Papilloma, Cyst-adenoma

Malignant Tumors – “sarcoma” or “carcinoma”

Mesenchymal origin – sarcoma
Eg: Fibrosarcoma, Osteosarcoma
Epithelial origin – carcinoma
Eg: Adenocarcinoma
Benign vs Malignant
 Benign vs Malignant
Benign Neoplasms Malignant Neoplasms
Slow growing Fast growing

Well-demarcated from adjacent normal Indistinct demarcation from adjacent

tissues tissues

May be encapsulated Usually not encapsulated

Non-invasive Invasive & Infiltrate
(Can invade and destroy adjacent structure)

Do not metastasize Metastasize

(Cannot spread to distant sites) (Can spread to distant sites)
Well differentiated Poorly differentiated

Generally can be locally excised / Cutaneous mass attached to underlying

Cutaneous masses are usually easily tissue
moveable
Benign - capsule is present due to expansion
Malignant - no capsule
Benign - no local invasion, no metastasis
Malignant - metastasis is present
 Effects of neoplasia on a host
Tumours can effect the host in the following ways:
 Local Effects ,Cancer Cachexia, Paraneoplastic Syndromes
– Endocrinopathies, Neuromyopathies ,Osteochondral Disorders
– Vascular Phenomena, Fever, Nephrotic Syndrome

Local Effects
Tumor Impingement on nearby structures
– Pancreatic carcinoma on bile duct, Esophageal carcinoma on lumen
Ulceration/bleeding
– Colon, Gastric, and Renal cell carcinomas
– Patient presents with anaemia.
Infection (often due to obstruction)
– Pulmonary infections due to blocked bronchi (lung carcinoma), Urinary
infections due to blocked ureters (cervical carcinoma)
Rupture or Infarction
– Ovarian, Hepatocellular carcinoma
 Cachexia
Cachexia is seen in advanced cancer and includes
Body wasting
Weakness
Anorexia
Anemia.