lecture 2

Question 1

what is the only way to do a diagnosis?

Answer 1

look at the cells (cytology) or tissue (histology)

Question 2

biopsy techniques

Answer 2

needle, skin punch, grab biopsy, incisional biopsy, excisional biopsy

Question 3

why is necrosis not good for biopsies?

Answer 3

not diagnostic quality

Question 4

where would ideally do a biopsy?

Answer 4

best chance to get diagnostic sample

Question 5

considerations for biopsy

Answer 5

do not predispose to local spread, do not compromise subsequent therapy

Question 6

excisional biopsy vs incisional biopsy

Answer 6

excisional biopsy= whole lesion taken out / incisional biopsy= bit taken out

Question 7

cytology def

Answer 7

ways of collecting cells, can give information about the cell population in that lesion (monomorphic/polymorphic…) can direct towards diagnosis

Question 8

cytology techniques

Answer 8

impression smears, fine needle aspiration, cytospins of body fluids/effusions

Question 9

fine needle aspiration (FNA)

Answer 9

upfront technique in most situations, needle of 23 gage : locate lesion in one hand, stab it in different directions –> collect sample of whatever is in that region –> make smear by crossing one slide over the other –> cytology stain

Question 10

advantages of cytology

Answer 10

quick & cheap, valuable info on type of cell type

Question 11

disadvantage of cytology

Answer 11

cant’ grade tumour

Question 12

grades in tumours

Answer 12

grade 1 is benign(ish), high /grdae 3 tumours= malignant, can only achieve that with cytology

Question 13

when is cytology useful

Answer 13

enlarged lymph nodes, lesions in cell body BUT cautious –> can cause haemorrhage or tract them along internal tissue (eg bladder tumours are very sticky tumours)

Question 14

limitations of cytology

Answer 14

soft tissue sarcomas, splenic lesions –> can get haemorrhagic lesions, not uncommon in labradors, german shepherds etc

Question 15

splenic tumours and mammary tumours best outcome

Answer 15

take them out

Question 16

clinical stage of tumour

Answer 16

extent of tumour in terms of local invasion and whether it might have metastasised to local lymph nodes or more distant sites

Question 17

Tis meaning

Answer 17

carcinoma in situ –> haven’t broken through basal membrane yet

Question 18

T1 meaning

Answer 18

superficial tumour less than 2cm in diameter

Question 19

T3

Answer 19

over 5 cm in diameter

Question 20

T4

Answer 20

tumour invading other structures –> requires euthanasia

Question 21

physical signs of invasive tumours

Answer 21

fixed, thickening around it

Question 22

what imagery for bones?

Answer 22

CT better than MRI or radiography

Question 23

CT scan use

Answer 23

bone, less valuable for soft tissues sarcomas

Question 24

lymph nodes than can be palpated

Answer 24

mandibular, prescapular, popliteal

Question 25

what to do if lymph node enlarged?

Answer 25

FNA

Question 26

what is the most likely place for tumour cells to go for metastases?

Answer 26

lungs, cannot detect them until they reach certain size

Question 27

where do mast cell tumours go most often

Answer 27

liver and spleen

Question 28

important bit for radiography taking

Answer 28

need to take both right and left lateral views

Question 29

how do you use CT scans?

Answer 29

run along them to differentiate nodules from blood vessels

Question 30

limitations of clinical stages

Answer 30

micrometastasis are below limit of what we can detect

Question 31

only treatment for mammary tumours in bitches

Answer 31

removal, 50% are benign