Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Best prognosis is lymphocyte pre-dominant type It's more common in older people but can occur in young people. The main difference between…

Cancer histology/pathology

Reed-Steinberg cells - Hodgkin's lymphoma Rouleaux formation - multiple myeloma Auer rods - AML

Renal Cell Carcinoma

Cancer from renal tubular epithelium. Two most common types: Clear cell - (white cells) 75% Papillary - (papillary carcinoma) 10% Family…

Wilms' tumour

aka Nephroblastoma Children under 5 with genetic syndromes what affect WT1 gene eg Beckwith-Weidemann syndrome (large tongue)

Urothelial Carcinoma

From transitional epithelium. Accounts for 90% of bladder carcinoma. Higher risk in: Dye and rubber industry workers Male 60+

Seminoma

Malignant neoplasm of germ cells in seminiferous tubules Most common type of testicular cancer \(\uparrow\) risk from cryptorchidism reg…

Fibroadenomas

Well defined mobile breast mass/lump Proliferation of both epithelial and stromal components

Ductal carcinoma in situ

Malignant clonal proliferation of cells within structures Precursor of invasive carcinoma Most commonly identified as microcalcification Inv…

Leiomyoma

Benign smooth muscle tumour aka uterine fibroids Can be asymptomatic Very common gyne condition

Ovarian Cancer

Often presents late due to the non-specific symptoms resulting in a worse prognosis. Presents with abdominal bloating, early satiety, pelvic pain, pe…

Acute myeloid leukaemia

Accumulation and proliferation of immature myeloid cells Median presenting age 69 Features of bone marrow failure (anaemia, severe opportunis…

Myelodysplastic syndromes

Similar to AML with ineffective haematopoiesis Low risk only treat if symptomatic, high risk treat like AML

Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

Rapid growth and accumulation of immature lymphocytes Most common type of leukaemia in children Similar symptoms to AML Treatment philos…

Chronic myeloid leukaemia

Chronic phase Accelerated phase Blast phase  Slow growing cancer of mature myeloid cells which don't function properly Mai…

Chronic lymphoblastic leukaemia

Excessive proliferation of mature B cells Most common leukaemia Associated with autoimmune conditions

Multiple myeloma

Plasma cell proliferation usually in older people - incurable but very treatable CRAB diagnostic criteria: Calcium ↑ - increased osteocl…

Lymphoma

B or T cell usually solid malignancy in a lymph node B symptoms Fever Weight loss Night sweats Hodgkin's lymphoma Presenc…

Thyroid tumours

Thyroid follicular adenoma Commonest cause of solitary thyroid nodule Solid mass with fibrous capsule - normally non functioning Wide age r…

Insulinomas

F >> M most common tumour of islet of Langerhans Need paired insulin and BM levels - \(\uparrow\) peptide C also indicates

Parahyperthyroid adenomas

Adenomas - 85% of cases of primary HPT Glandular hyperplasia - all 4 glands enlarged, can occur sporadically or part of genetic syndromes. Medical…

Oral Cavity Carcinoma

Majority arise in areas of pre-existing epithelial dysplasia Tobacco, alcohol, HPV, Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Fanconi anaemia

Laryngeal Carcinoma

25 % of head and neck cancers Smoking alcohol, M>F Hoarseness, dyspnea

Salivary gland tumours

Pleomorphic salivary adenoma Most common tumour - usually in parotid Slow growing painless - can undergo malignant transformation

Barrett's oesophagus

Long standing reflux leads to metaplasia of stratified squamous mucosa to simple columnar mucosa/intestinal morphology Pre malignant condition …

Oesophageal carcinoma

Squamous cell carcinoma - other carcinogens - HPV, alcohol, burns... Adenocarcinoma - caused by Barrett's oesophagus - mainly caucasians …

Gastric Cancer

Most commonly adenocarcinoma, less freq endocrine tumours, lymphomas, stromal tumours. TNM staging Adenocarcinoma of GOJ associated with reflux, b…

Liver Tumours

Benign Liver tumours Hepatocyte adenoma - may be multiple, often driven by exogenous steroids, can be fatal if rupture Bile duct adenoma - lots…

Colorectal cancer

3rd most common cancer (behind lung, breast/prostate) - TNM (was previously Dukes') Most common moderately well differentiated adenocarcinoma …

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Most common pancreatic cancer - usually in head of pancreas ↑ risk with chronic pancreatitis, DM, alcohol Hereditary with Lynch synd…

Pancreatic cancer

Ductal adenocarcinoma Most common pancreatic cancer - usually in head of pancreas ↑ risk with chronic pancreatitis, DM, alcohol H…

Cannonball metastasis

C: choriocarcinoma/colorectal carcinoma R: renal cell carcinoma E: endometrial carcinoma S: synovial sarcoma …

Familial cancer syndromes

Gatekeepers - directly regularte tumours gene growth - division and death RB1, APC Care takers - improve genetic stability p53, BRC…

Bone metastasis

Cancers that metastasise to bone Thyroid Lung Breast Kidney Prostate

Bleomycin

Chemotherapy agent for HL and testicular cancer After treatment be very careful about giving supplemental high flow oxygen - do not give nebs&nb…

Cancer locations and gene mutations

Location Primary Secondary Lung non-small cell carcinoma squamous cell carcinoma larg…

Brain tumours

Gliomas Glial cells - astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and ependymal cells. Gliomas are graded from 1 to 4. Grade 1 is the most benign (possibly cu…

Pathological fractures

A fracture due to an underlying disease of the bone - usually a tumour, osteoporosis or Paget's disease of the bone. Occur with disproportionatel…

Tumour lysis syndrome

Chemotherapy for rapidly proliferating tumours (leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma) leads to cell death add ↑urate, K+, phosphate and ↓…

Cancer red flags

Lung Symptomatic of SVC obstruction, stridor Haemoptysis Persistent/recurrent chest infection Finger clubbing Supraclavicular/cervical …

Tumour markers

Tumour marker Relevant cancer Use Other associated cancers Associated benign conditions Alpha-fetoprote…

Anti-coagulation with cancer

Differentiating features of leukaemia

Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia is the most common leukaemia in children and associated with Down syndrome Chronic lymphoblastic leukaemia is…

Lambert–Eaton Syndrome

Lambert–Eaton myasthenic syndrome is a rare autoimmune disorder characterised by muscle weakness of the limbs. Around 60% of those with LEMS ha…

Paraneoplastic Syndromes

Lung Hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy (HPOA), which is the combination of clubbing and periostitis of the small hand joints. As seen i…