Category: Oncology
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Metastasis
Metastasis is a hallmark of malignancy. Final part of Introduction to neoplasia chapter.
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Melanoma
Definition N Engl J Med. 2006 Jul 6;355(1):51-65. Malignant skin neoplasm resulting from the transformation and uncontrolled proliferation of melanocytes. Etiology N Engl J Med. 2006 Jul 6;355(1):51-65. Histology Melanocytes: specialized pigment cells found in the basal layer of the epidermis that produce and transfer melanin to mitotically active keratinocytes. Melanin: a dark pigment produced by epidermal…
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Oncologic emergencies
Definition Complications due to active malignancies or chemotherapy. Metabolic, cardio-respiratory, neurological, structural, or mechanical in nature. Requires active monitoring and immediate management. Metabolic N Engl J Med. 2011 May 12;364(19):1844-54. Endocrinol Nutr. 2010 May;57 Suppl 2:30-40. Cleve Clin J Med. 2004 Aug;71(8):639-50. Humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy (HHM) Etiology and pathophysiology Three major mechanisms lead to elevated serum calcium levels.…
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Breast cancer
Overview Definition: breast cancer refers to several types of neoplasm arising from breast tissue, the most common being adenocarcinoma of the cells lining the terminal duct lobular unit. This chapter only discusses this adenocarcinoma type. Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer in Canadian women, and is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in…
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Lung cancer
Overview Clin Chest Med. 2011 Dec;32(4):605-44. Canadian Cancer Society: Canadian Cancer Statistics 2012 Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in Canada and worldwide (about 27% of cancer deaths in Canada). Overall incidence of lung cancer is: Higher in men than women Declining for men since 1980s Declining for women since mid-2000s (reversal of…
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Introduction to neoplasia
Discusses neoplasia definitions, cancer biology, cancer genetics, and carcinogenesis.