10: Colorectal cancer Flashcards Preview

Gastrointestinal Week 5 2016/17 > 10: Colorectal cancer > Flashcards

Flashcards in 10: Colorectal cancer Deck (45)
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1
Q

Colorectal cancer is the 2nd most common cause of cancer ___.

A

death

2
Q

What is the benign form of colorectal neoplasia?

A

Adenoma

3
Q

What is the malignant form of colorectal neoplasia?

A

Adenocarcinoma

4
Q

What are adenomas a subset of?

A

Polyps

5
Q

Polyps can also be ___.

A

inflammatory

6
Q

What are two types of genes associated with cancer?

A

Oncogenes

Tumour suppressor genes

7
Q

Oncogenes promote ___ ___ and ___ when normal.

A

cell growth

division

8
Q

When mutated, oncogenes cause ___ cell growth and division.

A

excessive

9
Q

Tumour suppressor genes ___ cell growth and division when normal.

A

suppress

10
Q

What happens when tumour suppressor genes mutate?

A

Cell growth and division no longer suppressed

uncontrolled “”

11
Q

Name an example of a tumour suppressor gene associated with colorectal cancer.

A

APC

12
Q

Name an example of an oncogene involved in colorectal cancer.

A

K-Ras

13
Q

slide 19

tubular - fissures

villous - seaweed-like fronds

A
14
Q

Adenocarcinomas can be well, moderately or poorly ___.

A

differentiated

15
Q

Which two staging systems are used to classify the progression of colorectal cancer?

A

Dukes

TNM

16
Q

Describe a Dukes A tumour.

A

Hasn’t invaded the muscle wall

17
Q

Describe a Dukes B tumour.

A

Tumour has invaded the muscle wall but no lymph nodes are involved

18
Q

Described a Dukes C tumour.

A

Tumour has invaded muscle wall and lymph nodes are involved

19
Q

Describe a Dukes D tumour.

A

Distant metastases

20
Q

By what means can colorectal cancer spread?

A

Local (i.e via adjacent structures)

Lymphatically

Blood (liver and lungs specifically)

Transcoelomic (into the peritoneal cavity)

21
Q

Treatment of colorectal cancer must take into consideration the ___ ___ involved.

A

lymph nodes

22
Q

What lifestyle factors protect against colorectal cancer?

A

Diet (high fibre, fruit and veg)

Exercise

23
Q

What lifestyle factors cause colorectal cancer?

A

Red, processed meat

Smoking

Alcohol

Obesity

24
Q

A large family history of colorectal cancer (increases / decreases) the chances of developing it yourself.

A

increases

25
Q

What is FAP?

A

Familal adenomatous polyposis

an inherited form of colorectal cancer.

26
Q

What is the clinical presentation of FAP?

A

shitloads of polyps

27
Q

What is HNPCC?

A

Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer

i.e FAP without all the polyps

28
Q

Name two inherited forms of colorectal cancer.

What mode of inheritance do they have?

A

FAP , HNPCC

Autosomal dominant

29
Q

Which GI conditions predispose you to cancer?

A

Adenomatous polyps

Crohn’s disease

Ulcerative colitis

30
Q

___ inflammation is associated with the onset of colorectal cancer.

A

Chronic

31
Q

What general condition is caused by substantial bleeding in the GI tract?

A

Anaemia

32
Q

Why do colorectal cancer patients experience tenesmus?

A

Literally a mass in their rectum which can’t be evacuated

33
Q

What are common symptoms of colorectal cancer?

A

Bleeding - rectal, anaemia, with diarrhoea

Abdominal pain

Altered bowel habits

Tenesmus

Weight loss

34
Q

How is suspected colorectal cancer investigated?

A

Barium enema

CT scan

Sigmoid/colonoscopy

35
Q

What can be used to remove polyps during an investigation?

A

Endoscope itself

36
Q

What screening test can be used to detect colorectal cancer early?

A

Faecal occult blood test (FOBT)

37
Q

50-75 year olds should have ___ ___ every two years.

A

bowel screening

38
Q

Which investigations are used to stage the spread of colorectal cancer (e.g to the lungs and liver)?

A

CT scan

39
Q

What is an emergency presentation of colorectal cancer?

A

Obstruction

Bleeding

Bowel perforation

40
Q

What treatment is used to treat obstruction in the short term?

A

Colostomy / resection / stenting

41
Q

The higher the Dukes stage, the (better / worse) the patient’s prognosis.

A

worse

42
Q

Poorly differentiated cancer has a (good / bad) prognosis.

Well differentiated cancer has a (good / bad) prognosis.

A

poorly differentiated - poor prognosis

well differentiated - good prognosis

43
Q

___ is often the treatment for colorectal cancer.

A

Surgery

44
Q

What other treatments can be used to treat/palliate colorectal cancer?

A

Radiotherapy

Chemotherapy

45
Q

The key to ensuring a better prognosis for colorectal cancer is to catch it ___.

A

early