Medical Terminology Chapter 19 Cancer – Flashcards
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cystic
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forming large open spaces filled with fluid
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fungating
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mushrooming pattern of growth in which tumor cells pile one on top of another and project from a tissue surface
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inflammatory
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having the features of inflammation (redness, swelling, and heat)
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medullary
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pertaining to large, soft, fleshy, tumors
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necrotic
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containing dead tissue
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polypoid
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growths that are like projections extending outward from a base
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ulcerating
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characterized by an open, exposed surface resulting from the death of overlying tissue
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verrucous
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resembling a wart-like growth
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alveolar
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tumor cells form patterns resembling small sacs
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carcinoma in situ
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referring to localized tumor cells that have not invaded adjacent structures
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diffuse
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spreading evenly throughout the affected tissue
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dysplastic
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abnormal-appearing cells; not clearly cancerous
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epidermoid
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resembling squamous epithelial cells (thin, plate-like)
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follicular
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forming small glandular sacs
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papillary
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forming small, finger-like or nipple-like projections of cells
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pleomorphic
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composed of a variety of types of cells
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scirrhous
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densely packed (scirrhous means hard) tumors, containing bands of fibrous tissue
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undifferentiated
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lacking microscopic structures typical of normal mature cells
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cauterization
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process of burning tissue to destroy it
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core needle biopsy
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placement of a large-bore needle that extracts a thin core of tissue
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cryosurgery
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use of subfreezing temperature to destroy tissue
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en bloc resection
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tumor is removed along with a large area of surrounding tissue containing lymph nodes
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excisional biopsy
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removal of tumor and a margin of normal tissue
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exenteration
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wide resection involving removal of the tumor, its organ of origin, and all surrounding tissue in the body space
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fine needle aspiration
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placement of a very thin needle inside the tumor mass and extracting cells for microscopic evaluation
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fulguration
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destruction of tissue by electric sparks generated by a high-frequency current
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incisional biopsy
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piece of tumor is removed for examination to establish a diagnosis
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brachytherapy
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implantation of small, sealed containers or seeds of radioactive material directly into the tumor (interstitial therapy)
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electron beams
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low-energy beams for treatment of skin or surface tumors
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external beam irradiation (teletherapy)
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radiation therapy applied to a tumor from a distant source (linear accelerator)
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fields
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dimensions of the size of radiation area used to treat a tumor from a specific angle
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fractionation
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a method of dividing radiation into small, repeated doses rather that fewer large doses
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gray (Gy)
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unit of absorbed radiation dose
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linear accelerator
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large electronic device that produces high-energy x-ray (or photon) beams for the treatment of deep-seated tumors
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photon therapy
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radiation therapy using x-rays or gamma rays
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proton therapy
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small subatomic positively charge particles (protons) produced by a cyclotron deposit all the absorbed dose at a focused finite point
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radiocurable tumor
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tumor that can be completely eradicated by radiation therapy
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radioresistant tumor
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tumor that requires large doses of radiation to produce death of the cells
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radiosensitive tumor
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tumor in which irradiation can cause the death of cells without serious damage to surrounding tissue (morbidity)
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radiosensitizers
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drugs that increase the sensitivity of tumors to x-rays
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simulation
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study prior to radiation therapy using CT scan and/or MRI to map treatment; required for all patients undergoing RT
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stereotactic radiosurgery
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a single large dose of radiation (Gamma Knife surgery) delivered under stereotactic (highly precise) guidance to destroy a vascular abnormality or to treat small intracranial tumors
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alkylating agents
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synthetic compounds containing one or two alkyl groups
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antibiotics
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drugs produced by bacteria or fungi
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antimetabolites
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drugs that inhibit the synthesis of nucleotide components of DNA
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antimiotics
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chemicals derived from bacteria, fungi, or plants or from animals found on coral reefs or in the ocean
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hormonal agents
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class of chemicals made by endocrine glands in the body
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adjuvant therapy
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assisting primary treatment
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anaplasia
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loss of differentiation of cells; reversion to a more primitive cell type
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angiogensis
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process of forming new blood vessels
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apoptosis
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programmed cell death
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benign tumor
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noncancerous growth (neoplasm)
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biological response modifiers
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substances produced by normal cells that either directly block tumor growth or stimulate the immune system to fight cancer
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biological therapy
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use of the body's own defenses to destroy tumor cells
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carcinogens
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agents that cause cancer; chemicals and drugs, radiation, and viruses
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carcinoma
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cancerous tumor made up of cells of epithelial origin
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cellular oncogenes
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pieces of DNA, that when activated by mutations or by dislocation, can cause a normal cell to become malignant
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chemotherapy
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treatment with drugs
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combination chemotherapy
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use of several chemotherapeutic agents together for the treatment of tumors
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dedifferentiation
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loss of differentiation of cells; reversion to a more primitive, embryonic cell type; anaplasia or undifferentiation
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deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
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genetic material within the nucleus of a cell; controls cell division and protein synthesis
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differentiating agents
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drugs that promote tumor cells to differentiate, stop growing, and die
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differentiation
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specialization of cells
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encapsulated
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surrounded by a capsule; benign tumors are encapsulated
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external beam irradiation
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applying radiation to a tumor from a source outside the body
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genetic screening
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family members are tested to determine whether they have inherited a cancer-causing gene
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grading of tumors
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evaluating the degree of maturity of tumor cells or indication of malignant transformation
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gross description of tumors
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visual appearance of tumors to the naked eye: cystic, fungating, inflammatory, medullary, necrotic, polypoid, ulcerating, and verrucous tumors
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infiltrative
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extending beyond normal tissue boundaries into adjacent tissues
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invasive
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having the ability to enter and destroy surrounding tissue
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irradiation
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exposure to any form of radiant energy such as light, heat, or x-rays
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malignant tumor
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a tumor have the characteristics of continuous growth, invasiveness, and metastisis
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mesenchymal
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embryonic connective tissue; tissue from which connective tissues (bone, muscle, fat, cartilage) arise
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metastisis
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spread of a malignant tumor to a secondary site; literally, beyond control
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microscopic description of tumors
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appearance of tumors when viewed under a microscope
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mitosis
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replication of cells; a stage in a cell's life cycle involving the production of two identical cells from a parent cell
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mixed-tissue tumors
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tumors composed of different types of tissue (epithelial as well as connective tissue)
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modality
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method of treatment, such as surgery, chemotherapy, or irradiation
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molecularly targeted drugs
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anticancer drugs designed to block the function of growth factors, their receptors, and signaling pathways in specific tumor cells
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morbidity
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condition of being unwell; deficient in normal function
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mucinous
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containing mucus
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mutation
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change in the genetic material (DNA) of a cell; may be caused by chemicals, radiation, or viruses or may occur spontaneously
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neoplasm
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new growth; benign or malignant tumors
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nucleotide
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unit of DNA (gene) composed of sugar, phosphate, and a base
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oncogene
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region of DNA in tumor cells (cellular oncogene) or in viruses that cause cancer (viral oncogene)
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palliative
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relieving but not curing symptoms
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pedunculated
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possessing a stem or stalk; characteristic of some polypoid tumors
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pharmacokinetics
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study of the distribution in and the removal of drugs from the body over time in humans and animals
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radiation
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energy carried by a stream of particles
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radiotherapy
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treatment of tumors using doses of radiation; radiation oncology
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relapse
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recurrence of tumor after treatment
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remission
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partial or complete disappearance of symptoms of disease
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ribonucleic acid (RNA)
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cellular substance that represents a copy of DNA and directs the formation of new protein inside cells
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sarcoma
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cancerous tumor derived from connective or flesh tissue
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serous
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having the appearance of a thin, watery fluid
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sessile
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having no stem; characteristic of some polypoid tissue
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solid tumor
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tumor composed of a mass of cells
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staging of tumors
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system of evaluating the extent of spread of tumors
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steroids
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complex, naturally occuring chemicals derived from cholesterol
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surgical procedures to treat cancer
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methods of removing cancerous tissue
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viral oncogenes
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pieces of DNA from viruses that infect a normal cell and cause it to become malignant
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virus
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an infectious agent that reproduces by entering a host cell and using the host's genetic material to make copies of itself
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alveol/o
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small sac
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cac/o
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bad
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carcin/o
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cancer, cancerous
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cauter/o
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burn, heat
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chem/o
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chemical, drug
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cry/o
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cold
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cyst/o
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sac of fluid
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fibr/o
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fibers
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follicul/o
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small glandular sacs
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fung/i
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fungus, mushroom
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medull/o
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soft, inner part
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mucos/o
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mucous membrane
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mut/a
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genetic change
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mutagen/o
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causing genetic change
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necr/o
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death
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onc/o
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tumor
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papill/o
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nipple-like
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pharmac/o
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chemical, drug
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plas/o
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formation
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ple/o
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many, more
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polyp/o
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polyp
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prot/o
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first
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radi/o
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rays
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sarc/o
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flesh, connective tissue
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scirrh/o
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hard
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xer/o
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dry
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-blastoma
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immature tumor
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-genesis
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formation
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-oma
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mass, tumor
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-plasia
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formation, growth
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-plasm
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formation, growth
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-suppression
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to stop
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-therapy
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treatment
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ana-
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backward
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apo-
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off, away
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brachy-
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short (distance)
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epi-
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upon
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meta-
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beyond; change
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tele-
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far
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cytogenetic analysis
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chromosomes of normal or tumor cells are examined for breaks, translocations, or deletions of DNA
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immunohistochemistry
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localizing antigens or proteins in tissues using labeled (colored or fluorescent) antibodies
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protein marker tests
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measure the level of proteins in the blood or on the surface of tumor cells
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bone marrow biopsy
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aspiration of bone marrow tissue and examination under a microscope for evidence of malignant cells
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bone marrow or stem cell transplantation
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bone marrow or stem cells are infused intravenously into a patient
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fiberoptic colonoscopy
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visual examination of the colon using a fiberoptic instrument
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exfoliative cytology
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cells are scraped from the region of suspected disease and examined under a microscope
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laparoscopy
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visual examination of the abdominal cavity using small incisions and a laparoscope
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mammography
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x-ray examination of the breast to detect breast cancer
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needle (core) biopsy
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insertion of a large-bore needle into tissue to remove a core of cells for microscopic examination
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radionuclide scans
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radioactive substances are injected intravenously, and scans (images) of organs are obtained
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AFP
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alpha-fetoprotein
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ATRA
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all-transretinoic acid
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BMT
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bone marrow transplantation
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bx
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biopsy
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CA
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cancer
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CEA
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carcinoembryonic antigen
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cGy
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centigray (one hundredth of a gray) or rad
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chemo
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chemotherapy
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CR
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complete response; disappearance of all tumor
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CSF
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colony-stimulating factor
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DES
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diethylstilbestrol
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DNA
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deoxyribonucleic acid
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EGFR
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epidermal growth factor receptor
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ER
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estrogen receptor
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EPO
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erythropoietin; promotes growth of red blood cells
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FNA
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fine needle aspiration
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5-FU
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5-fluorouracil
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Ga
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gallium
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GIST
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gastrointestinal stromal tumor
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Gy
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gray; unit of absorbed radiation dose
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H&E
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hematoxylin and eosin
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HER2-neu
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growth factor gene highly activated on certain types of breast cancer
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HNPCC
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hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer
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IGRT
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intensity-modulated gated radiation therapy
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IHC
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immunohistochemistry
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IMRT
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intensity-modulated radiation therapy
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IORT
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intraoperative radiation therapy
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mets
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metastases
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MoAB
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monoclonal antibody
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NED
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no evidence of disease
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NHL
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non-Hodgkin lymphoma
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NSCLC
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non-small cell lung cancer
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Pap smear
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Papanicolaou smear
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PD
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progressive disease; tumor increases in size
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PR
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partial response; tumor is one half its original size
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prot.
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protocol
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PSA
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prostate-specific antigen
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PSCT
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peripheral stem cell transplantation
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PSRS
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proton stereotactic radiosurgery
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RNA
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ribonucleic acid
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RT
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radiation therapy
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SD
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stable disease; tumor does not shrink but does not grow
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TNM
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tumor, nodes, metastases
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VEGF
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vascular endothelial growth factor
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XRT, RT
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radiation therapy
