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