Chapter 19: Oncology
-emia
blood condition
reticulosarcoma
cancerous tumor of the lymphatic system
myc/o
fungus
en-
in
stom/o
mouth
tox/o
poison
astrocytoma
tumor composed of star-shaped neuroglial cells
carcinoid
tumor derived from the argentaffin cells in the intestinal tracts, bile duct, pancreas, bronchus or ovary
thymoma
tumor of the thymus gland
internal radiation therapy
two forms of administration - sealed and unsealed
teratoma
type of cancer made of cysts that contain one or more of the three layers of cells found in a developing embryo; it can contain embryonic tissues of hair, teeth, bone or muscle
basal cell carcinoma (BCC)
type of skin cancer
ana-
up, apart, backward
bronchoscopy
use of a bronchoscope to examine the bronchi
colonoscopy
use of a colonscope to examine the colon
colposcopy
use of a colposcope to examine the cervix and vagina
gastroscopy
use of a gastroscope to examine the interior of the stomach
laparoscopy
use of a laparoscope to examine the abdomen
laryngoscopy
use of a laryngoscope to examine the interior of the larynx
proctoscopy
use of a proctoscope to examine the anus and rectum
sigmoidscopy
use of a sigmoidscope to examine the lower 10 inches of the large intestines
cystoscopy
use of of cystoscope to examine the bladder
passive
use of serum or other products from an immunocompetent individual that are given to an immunodeficient individual to produce an immune response
-ate(d)
use, action
angi/o
vessel
seven warning signals of cancer
CAUTION - change in bowel or bladder habits; a sore that does not heal; unusual bleeding or discharge; thickening or lump in breast or elsewhere; indigestion or difficulty in swallowing; obvious change in a wart or mole; nagging cough or hoarseness
seminoma
a cancerous tumor of the testis, diagnosed by biopsy
cryostat
a device for maintaining very low (cold) temperatures
capsul/o
a little box
glioblastoma
a rapidly growing cancerous tumor of the brain
bone marrow study
a test to detect abnormal bone marrow cells, which can indicate leukemia
photodynamic therapy (PDT)
a type of laser therapy, involved the use of a special chemical that is injected into the bloodstream and absorbed by cells all over the body; the chemical rapidly leaves normal cells but remains in cancer cells for a longer time; the laser light activates the chemical, which then kills the cancer cells that have absorbed it; can be used to reduce symptoms of non-small cell lung cancer and esophageal cancer
lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS)
abnormal cells found in the lobules of the breast; condition seldom becomes invasive cancer; increases the risk of developing cancer in either breast
ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)
abnormal cells that involve only the lining of a duct and have not spread outside the duct to other tissues in the breast
tumor
abnormal growth, swelling, or enlargement
dedifferentiation
abnormal process in which a cell or group of cells undergoes changes and no longer carries on normal cell functions - the failure of immature cells to develop specialized functions
carcinogen
agent or substance that incites or produces cancer
mutagen
agent that causes a change in the DNA of an organism
tumors
also called neoplasms
stereotactic biopsy
alternative to traditional surgical biopsy; uses a mammogram-guided needle; performed by a radiologist and assisted by mammography technologists; most helpful when mammography shows a mass, a cluster or microcalcifications or an area of abnormal tissue change but no lump can be felt on careful breast examination
mitosis
an orderly process that ensures growth, tissue repair, and cell reproduction
blood serum test
analysis of blood serum to obtain useful information about certain proteins synthesized by cancer; AFP and hCG
side effects of radiation therapy
anorexia, nausea, vomiting diarrhea, malaise, mild erythema, edema, ulcers, alopecia, taste blindness, stomatitis, mucositis, and xerostomia
adjuvant therapy
any treatment given after primary therapy to increase the change of long-term survival
malign/o
bad kind
annual physical examination
best means to protect a person's state of health
meta-
beyond
melan/o
black
hem/o
blood
prostate-specific antigen (PSA)
blood test that measures the amount of PSA, a substance produced by the prostate gland; should be offered every year to men 50 years of age or older
oste/o
bone
myel/o
bone marrow
human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2/neu)
can be performed on breast cancer cells to determine the presence of HER-2/neu protein, a genetic protein that is in part responsible for how certain cancer cells grow, divide, and repair themselves; useful when making treatment decisions
chemotherapy (chemo)
can be the treatment of choice when the cancer is disseminated (widespread) and cannot be surgically removed; also used when a tumor fails to respond to radiation therapy; injure individual cells, interfere with their vital functions, or destroy malignant cells - the normal cells that are most sensitive to being destroyed are hematopoietic cells, epithelian cells and the hair follicles
surgery
can be the treatment of choice when the tumor is small and localized and the surrounding tissue plus some of the surrounding normal tissue; also used to alleviate some of the complications of cancer, such as the obstruction of an area caused by the enlargement of a tumor
diagnostic radiology
can reveal tumors that were not detected by other diagnostic procedures
carcin/o
cancer
Stage 0
cancer in situ (limited to inner lining surface of the organ and not invading the organ)
carcinoma in situ (CIS)
cancer is confined to the lobules (milk-producing glands) or ducts (passages connecting milk-producing glands to the nipple) and has not invade nearby breast tissue
Stage I
cancer limited to the tissue or origin and has not spread past the tissue or organ where it started
squamous carcinoma
cancer of squamous epithelium
osteosarcoma
cancer of the bone
bronchogenic carcinoma
cancer originating in the bronchus of the respiratory tract
lung cancer
cancer that begins in the lungs - two types: non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer, depending on the appearance of the cells under a microscope
leukemia
cancer that usually affects the white blood cells; results when something goes wrong with the process of maturation from stem cell to white blood cell and a cancerous change occurs; involves a rearrangement of pieces of chromosomes disturbing the normal control of cell division; occupy the bone marrow, replacing the cells that produce normal blood cells; may also invade the liver, spleen, lymph nodes, kidneys and brain; four types named for how quickly they progress and which kind of white blood cell they affect: ALL, AML, CLL, CML
oncogenes
cancer-causing genes; genes in a virus that can induce cancer formation
lymphosarcoma
cancerous disease of lymphatic tissue
fibrosarcoma
cancerous tumor arising in collagen-producing fibroblasts
sarcoma
cancerous tumor arising is connective tissue
neuroblastoma
cancerous tumor composed chiefly of neuroblasts; can appear anywhere, but usually in the abdomen as a swelling most often diagnosed during the first year of life
oligodendroglioma
cancerous tumor composed chiefly of neuroglial cells and located in the cerebrum
osteogenic sarcoma
cancerous tumor composed of osseous tissue
chondrosarcoma
cancerous tumor derived from cartilage cells
liposarcoma
cancerous tumor of fat cells
lymphangiosarcoma
cancerous tumor of lymphatic vessels
lymphoma
cancerous tumor of lymphoid tissue
myosarcoma
cancerous tumor of muscle tissue
leiomyosarcoma
cancerous tumor of smooth muscle tissue
glioma
cancerous tumor of the brain
medulloblastoma
cancerous tumor of the brain, the fourth ventricle, and the cerebellum
nephroblastoma
cancerous tumor of the kidey; also called Wilms tumor; most often in children 2-3 years of age
Wilms tumor
cancerous tumor of the kidney occurring mainly in children
retinoblastoma
cancerous tumor of the retina; relatively rare, but accounts for 5% of childhood blindness
choriocarcinoma
cancerous tumor of the uterus or at the site of an ectopic pregnancy
rhabdomyosarcoma
cancerous tumor originating from the same embryonic cells that develop into striated muscles; most common soft tissue sarcoma in children
hemangiosarcoma
cancerous tumor originating in blood vessels
meningioma
cancerous tumor originating in the archnoidal (meninges) membrane of the brain
chondr/o
cartilage
cyt
cell
cyt/o
cell
anaplasia
characteristic of most cancerous cells in which there is a loss of differentiation and an irreversible alteration in adult cells toward more embryonic cell types
chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
characterized by a large number of cancerous mature lymphocytes and enlarged lymph nodes; mostly occurs in people over the age of 60; affects men more than women
chori/o
chorion
palliat/o
cloaked
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
complex protein of high molecular weight found in the nucleus of every cell; controls all of the cell's activities and the genetic material necessary for the organism's heredity
-ia
condition
xerostomia
condition of dryness of the mouth; oral change caused by radiation therapy or chemotherapy
-stasis
control
cancer/o
crab, cancer
pap smear/test
cytological screening test used to detect the presence of abnormal or cancerous cells from the cervix and vagina
chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML)
disease in which a cell in the bone marrow becomes cancerous and produces a large number of abnormal granulocytes; may affect people of any age and of either sex, but uncommon in children under the age of 10
testicular cancer (TC)
disease in which malignant cells form in the tissues of one or both testicles; most common cancer in men age 20-35; stems from germ cells within the testicles; either seminomas or nonseminomas
Stage IV
distant metastasis, has spread beyond the regional lymph nodes to distant parts of the body
xer/o
dry
encapsulated
enclosed within a site, sheath or capsule
in situ
enclosed within a site; refers to tumor cells that remain at a site and have no invaded adjacent tissue
staging system
evaluates the spread of the tumor - uses the letters T (tumor), N (node) and M (metastasis)
hyper-
excessive
tamponade (cardiac)
excessive fluid in the pericardial sac surrounding the heart; can be caused by advanced cancer of the lung or a tumor that has metastasized to the pericardium
hyperplasia
excessive formation and growth of normal cells
Stage III
extensive local and regional spread of cancer, usually to draining lymph nodes
lip/o
fat
fibr/o
fiber
human T-cell leukemia-lymphoma virus (HTLV)
first virus known to cause cancer in humans
sarc/o
flesh
fine needle aspiration (FNA)
form of breast biopsy in which a small needle is used to withdraw a sample of cells from the breast lump; if solid, the cells can be smeared on a slide for examination; if fluid, the cyst will collapse
Hodgkin disease (HD)
form of lymphoma that occurs in children and young adults
-plasia
formation
-gen
formation, produce
-genic
formation, produce
-ant
forming
aden/o
gland
gli/o
glue
trism
grating
malignant tumors
grow raidly, are not encapsulated, have cells that undergo permanent change, abnormal rapid proliferation, have invasive growth and metastasis, spread via the bloodstream, can recur when surgically removed if invasive growth has occurred, have extensive tissue destruction if invasive growth has occurred, have cachexia (extreme weakness, fatigue, wasting and malnutrition), are threats to life unless early and properly treated
benign tumors
grow slowly, are encapsulated, have cells that resemble the normal cells from which they arose, grow by expansion and cause pressure on surrounding tissue, remain localized, do not recur when surgically removed, have minimal tissue destruction, have no cachexia, are usually not a threat to life
occult
hidden
-blast
immature cell
in-
in
port
in radiation therapy, refers to the skin area of entry for the radiation
mucositis
inflammation of the oral mucosa caused by exposure to high-energy beams delivered by radiation therapy
nephr/o
kidney
core biopsy
large-bore needle removal of a generous sample of breast tissue and a vacuum-assisted needle biopsy device (VAD), which uses vacuum suction to obtain a tissue sample
grade 4
least differentiated cells and high degree of malignancy
acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
life-threatening disease in which myelocytes becomes cancerous and rapidly replace normal cells in the bone marrow; affects people of all ages, mostly adults
acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL)
life-threatening disease in which the cells that normally develop into lymphocytes becomes cancerous and rapidly replace normal cells in the bone marrow; most common type of leukemia in children
Stage II
limited local spread of cancerous cells, sometimes to lymph nodes
melanoma
literally means a black tumor; cancerous tumor
lymph/o
lymph
carcinomas
make up the great majority of all cancers and are malignant tumors or epithelial tissues; makeup the majority of the glandular cancers - breast, stomach, uterus, tongue and skin
Kaposi sarcoma (KS)
malignant neoplasm that causes violaceous (purplish discoloration) vascular lesions and general lymphadenopathy; often seen in patients who have AIDS
adenocarcinoma (ACA)
malignant tumor arising in a glandular organ
carcinoma
malignant tumor arising in epithelial tissue
Burkitt lymphoma
malignant tumor, most commonly found in Africa, that affects children, the characteristic symptom is a massive, swollen jaw
grade 3
many undifferentiated cells - tissue origin can be difficult to recognize - many cells are undergoing mitosis
medull/o
marrow
betatron
megavoltage machine used in administering external radiation therapy
cyclotron
megavoltage machine used in administering external radiation therapy
linear accelerator
megavoltage machine used in administering external radiation therapy
meningi/o, mening/o
meninges, membrane
sputum cytology test
microscopic examination of sputum to detect abnormal or cancerous cells of the bronchi and lungs
Mohs
microscopically controlled surgery that can be used to remove the two most common forms of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma - performed in 4 steps during one visit: 1) surgical removal of tissue, 2) mapping the piece of tissue, freezing and cutting the tissue between 5 and 10 micrometers using a cryostat and staining with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), 3) interpretation of microscope slides for the presence of cancerous cells, 4) reconstruction of the surgical site as needed - repeated until no further cancer is found
grade 2
moderately undifferentiated - more cells are undergoing mitosis, ad the pattern is fairly irregular
terat/o
monster
breast cancer
most common cancer among women, majority of cases are sporadic as opposed to genetic; men can also develop this cancer; early detection is extremely important; if not detected and treated early, it will continue to grow, invade and destroy adjacent tissue; can be carried by the lymph and/or blood to other areas of the body (metastasis); treatment is determined by the stage of the disease
grade 1
most differentiated and the least malignant tumors - only a few cells are undergoing mitosis; however, some abnormality exists
mucos/o
mucus
direct extension
multiplication of malignant cells is rapid, and subsequently spread into surrounding tissues via the interstitial spaces accompanied by engulfment and destruction of normal cells
my/o
muscle
-ive
nature of
neur/o
nerve
reticul/o
net
neoplasm
new tissue formed, such as an abnormal growth or tumor
ribonucleic acid (RNA)
nucleic acid found in all living cells; responsible for protein synthesis
primary site
original, initial or principal site
sarcomas
originate in connective or supportive tissues of the body such as the muscles, tendons, fat, joints and bone
external radiation therapy (ERT)
patient receives calculated doses of radiation from a machine located at some distance from the site of the tumor; patient is prepped; the precise size and location of the tumor are determined and marked using a dye or tattoo; computer calculates the radiation dosage needed to effect maximal destruction of malignant cells and minimal damage to surrounding tissue
-al
pertaining to
-ar
pertaining to
-us
pertaining to
malignant
pertaining to a bad wandering; refers to the spreading process of cancer from one area of the body to another
palliative
pertaining to a form of treatment to relieve or alleviate symptoms without curing
viral
pertaining to a virus, which means poison in Latin
precancerous
pertaining to changes or conditions before the onset of cancer
trismus
pertaining to the inability to open the mouth fully; occurs in patients with oral cancer who undergo a combination of surgery and radiation therapy
oncogenic
pertaining to the potential formation of tumors, especially cancerous ones
infiltrative
pertaining to the process of extending or growing into normal tissue; invasive
invasive
pertaining to the spreading process of malignant tumor into normal tissue
situ
place
-plakia
plaque
laboratory analysis
plays a key role in detecting specific types of cancer
Ewing sarcoma
primary bone cancer occurring in the pelvic area or in one of the long bones; occurs mostly in children and adolescents
-ion
process
sentinel node biopsy
process by which a physician pinpoints the first lymph node into which a tumor drains; and removes only the nodes most likely to contain cancer cells
differentiation
process by which immature cells undergo normal changes as they mature and assume their specialized functions
mutation
process by which the DNA is changed
external radiation
process of administering radiation to the patient via a radiation machine located outside the body
fungating
process of growing rapidly, like a fungus
exacerbation
process of increasing the severity of symptoms; a time with the symptoms of a disease are most prevalent
remission
process of lessening the severity of symptoms; time when symptoms of a disease are controlled
immunosuppression
process of preventing formation of the immune response
proliferation
process of rapid production; growth by multiplying
adoptive
process of transferring a form of specific immune response from a donor to a recipient
metastasis
process whereby cancer cells from a primary site spread to a distant secondary site elsewhere in the body; usually occurs when the malignant cells invade the bloodstream or lymph system and are transported to a secondary site where they become lodged and form a neoplasm - depends on the viability and receptivity of the organ
endoscopy
provides the physician a direct view of certain portions of the body
needle biopsy
puncture of a tumor for the removal of a core of tissue through the lumen of a needle
dosimetrist
radiation physicist
teletherapy
radiation therapy in which the radioactive substance is at a distance from the body area being treated
brachytherapy
radiation therapy in which the radioactive substance is inserted into a body cavity or organ; the source of radiation is located a short distance from the body area being treated
unsealed radiation therapy
radioactive iodine-131, radioactive phosphorus-32 and radioactive gold-198 are some of the substances used; phosphorus-32 may be intravenously administered for use in the treatment of colloidal suspension and instilled in a body cavity for the palliative treatment of certain malignancies; iodine-131 can be orally administered, usually in conjunction with a thyroidectomy
sealed radiation therapy
radioactive material such as radium, cesium-137, cobalt-60, and iridium-192 is sealed in a small gold container called a seed or within molds, plaques, needles, or other devices designed to hold the radioactive substance near the malignancy; the radiation source is implanted within the cancerous tissue or special devices or applicators have been designed to hold the implant in position for the desired period of treatment
Paget disease of the breast
rare form of breast cancer; characterized by inflammatory changes of the nipple that may extend to the areola
cancer (CA)
refers to any malignant tumor
remiss/o
remit
cone biopsy
removal of a cone of tissue from the uterine cervix
sternal biopsy
removal of a piece of bone marrow from the sternum
endoscopic biopsy
removal of a piece of tissue through an endoscope
punch biopsy
removal of a plug of tissue (epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue) from the skin
-oid
resemble
retin/o
retina
rhabd/o
rod
immun/o
safe, immunity
secondary site
second site usually derived from the primary site
semin/o
seed
brachy-
short
interstitial
situated between the cells of a structure
possible causes of cancer
smoking, genetic predisposition, viruses, hormones, radiation, environmental agents - air and/or water pollution, chemicals used in industry, food, cosmetics, and plastic
lei/o
smooth
invasive growth
spreading process of a malignant tumor into adjacent normal tissue either by active migration or direct extension
astro-
star-shaped
-in
substance
mycotoxin
substance produced by fungus growing in food or animal feed that, if ingested, can cause cancer
suppress/o
suppress
incisional biopsy
surgical incision to remove a section or wedge of tissue from the suspected body site
excisional biopsy
surgical removal of a piece of tissue from the suspected body site
biopsy (Bx)
surgical removal of a small piece of tissue for microscopic examination; the method of providing the proof of cancer in the diagnosis of the disease
humon chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) test
test in which abnormal results can indicate ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, testicular cancer, or trophoblastic tumor; used to monitor treatment in certain patients with cancer; falling levels indicate that the cancer is responding to treatment; increased levels after treatment can indicate a recurrence of disease
urine assay test
test providing useful information about catecholamines, which can indicate pheochromocytoma of the adrenal medulla
carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)
test that measures the amount of a protein that can appear in the blood of some people who have certain kinds of cancers, especially large intestine (colon and rectal) cancer; can be present in people with cancer of the pancreas, breast, ovary or lung
cancer antigen 125 (CA-125)
test that measures the amount of this protein in the blood; found on the surface of many ovarian cancer cells; can also be found in other cancers and in small amounts in normal tissue
fecal occult blood test
test to detect hidden blood in the stool; if present, further testing would be needed to check for possible colon cancer
alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) test
test to diagnose or monitor fetal distress or abnormalities, diagnose some liver disorders, and screen for and monitor some cancers; higher than normal levels indicate cause in testes, ovaries, biliary tract, stomach or pancreas
recurrent breast cancer
the disease has returned in spite of initial treatment
active migration
the malignant tumor cells break away from the neoplasm, invade surrounding tissue, divide, form secondary tumors, then reunite with the primary tumor as growth continues
active specific
the use of various agents to produce a specific host-immune response
thym/o
thymus
mutat/o
to change
duct/o
to lead
filtrat/o
to strain through
-therapy
treatment
immunotherapy
treatment of disease by stimulation of the body's immune system; may be used as an adjuvant to other types of treatments - three types: active specific, passive, adoptive
radiation therapy
treatment of disease by the use of ionizing radiation; also called radiotherapy, x-ray therapy, cobalt treatment; the process whereby energy is beamed from its source to a selected target tissue; calculated dose with the intention of least possible damage to the surrounding normal tissue; used as a curative or palliative mode of therapy; often the treatment for cancers of the skin, uterus, cervix, or larynx or those located within the oral cavity; frequently used in combination with other forms of treatment for other types of cancer
TomoTherapy Highly Integrated Adaptive Radiotherapy (HI-ART)
treats hard-to-reach tumors that often sit close to healthy tissues and organs, while minimizing damage to these surrounding tissues - combines an advanced form of intensity modulated radiation therapy with the accuracy of CT scanning technology, all in one machine
dendr/o
tree
-oma
tumor
onc/o
tumor
myeloma
tumor arising in the hematopoietic portion of the bone marrow
malignant cells
usually multiply rapidly, forming a mass of abnormal cells that enlarges, ulcerates and sheds malignant cells that invade surrounding tissues - destroys the normal cells and replaces them
vir/o
virus (poison)
anatomical site
where the cancer originated
leuk/o
white
leukoplakia
white, thickened patches formed on the mucous membranes of the inner cheeks, gums, or tongue that tend to become cancerous
lesion
wound; an injury, altered tissue, or a single infected patch of skin