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AMA 181 - Anatomy &
Physiology/Medical
Terminology/Pathology 12
Specialty Topics
Cancer Medicine (Oncology)
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Cancer: A disease caused by abnormal and excessive
growth of body cells; may occur in any tissue at any
time, but more frequently in older individuals.
Malignant Tumors: accumulated cancer cells that
grow in the body; compress, invade and destroy
surrounding normal tissue. Cancer cells can also
spread (metastasize) throughout the body via the
bloodstream or lymphatic vessels.
Women: most common are lung, breast and colorectal
cancers.
Men: most common are lung, colorectal and prostate
cancers
Tumors
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Also called neoplasms
Benign: grow slowly, encapsulated, do not
usually spread, cells are differentiated
(resemble the tissue from which they come)
Malignant: grow rapidly, invasive and
infiltrative, spread into surrounding tissues,
cells are undifferentiated (do not resemble
surrounding tissue), vary in size and shape,
piling on top of each other in a disorganized
fashion and can break off and travel to other
parts of the body.
Causes
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Not fully understood, results from damage to genetic
material (DNA) causing chemical changes in the DNA.
Environmental: chemicals in products and drugs such
as cigarettes, car exhaust, hormones, etc... Radiation
from sunlight, x-rays or other substances and even
some viruses can cause cancer.
Heredity: susceptibility to some forms of cancer is
transmitted to children via defects in the DNA of
the egg or sperm cells. Genetic screening via blood
testing can detect whether a person has inherited a
cancer-causing gene.
Classification or Types
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Carcinomas: largest group, solid tumors
derived from epithelial tissue both internal
and external such as skin, glands, digestive
and reproductive organs (adenomas)
Sarcomas: less common, derive from
connective tissue such as bones, muscles, fat
and bone marrow.
Mixed-tissue tumors: derived from both
types of tissues, least common and can be
found in kidneys, ovaries and testes.
Treatments: major approaches
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Surgery: invasive removal of tumor and
possibly surrounding tissue
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Radiation therapy: ionizing radiation
delivered to cancerous tissue
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Chemotherapy: drugs given to patient,
standard treatment, often combined with
other treatments
Biological therapy: use of body’s own
defenses to fight tumor cells
Radiology
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Radiology: medical specialty for the study of x-rays.
Wilhelm Roentgen discovered x-rays, they are named
after him.
Radioactive Substances: materials that emit highspeed particles and energy-containing rays from
matter. Three types: alpha particles, beta particles
and gamma rays. Gamma rays are used to diagnose the
path and uptake of chemical substances in the body.
X-ray Characteristics
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Cause exposure of photographic plate by turning the areas of
exposure black.
Able to penetrate different substances; pass through soft
tissue (radiolucent) and are absorbed by dense tissue
(radiopaque). Bones are radiopaque, areas surrounding are
radiolucent, thus the x-rays are absorbed by the bones which
show up white and pass through other tissue, showing up black on
the plate enabling a good visual of bone tissues in the body.
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Travel in straight lines allowing for precision images and
ionization of cancer cells.
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Ionization properties: can help destroy cancer cells but also can
destroy good cells. Proper protection required during use.
Nuclear Medicine
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Medical specialty that studies the characteristics and
uses of radioactive substances in the diagnosis of
disease.
Contrast Studies: natural differences in body tissue
density cause contrasting shadow images on x-rays
but can be hard to differentiate. A contrast medium
is injected into the structure or fluid to help with
visualization. Double contrast combines both
radiopaque and radiolucent contrast mediums.
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Barium is used for GI studies
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Iodine is used for blood vessels and heart as well as
other organs. Can be mixed with air for joints
Diagnostic Techniques
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Computed Tomography (CT): beams x-rays at
multiple angles through a section of the body
creating multiple, cross-sectional views.
Sensitivity or accuracy increased by use of
iodine contrast agents that outline blood
vessels.
Fluoroscopy: x-ray procedure that uses an
image intensifier rather than a photographic
plate, thus allowing for visualization of
internal organs in motion, often used to guide
surgery.
Diagnostic Techniques
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Ultrasound: uses high-frequency sound waves that
bounce off body tissues and are then recorded. Used
for many organs and vessels of the body, but mostly
recognized in fetal examination. Advantage is that it
is non-invasive and does not harm tissues. Movement
can be viewed and is often used to guide surgeries.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): uses
electromagnetic energy producing multiple views of
the body. Can be used with or without contrast and is
excellent for soft tissue imaging. Patients cannot
have metal implants or pacemakers.
Study the various nuclear medicine tests and
procedures in your text as well as the x-ray
positioning.
Pharmacology
Study of the preparation, properties, uses and actions of drugs.
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Drugs (Medicines): used to prevent or treat a condition or disease. Can come
from plants, animals or are synthesized (chemically made) in a laboratory.
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Medicinal chemistry: study of new drug synthesis and relationship between
chemical structure and biological effects
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Pharmacodynamics: study of drug effects in the body: absorption, distribution,
metabolism and excretion.
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Pharmacokinetics: mathematical description of drug appearance and
disappearance in the body over time
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Molecular pharmacology: study of drug interaction with DNA, RNA and enzymes
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Chemotherapy: study of drugs that destroy cancer
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Toxicology: study of harmful effects of drugs and chemicals on the body
Study the names, standards and references of drugs as well as the
administration, toxicity and drug classes in your text; these are critical to
know and understand.
Psychiatry
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Branch of medicine that deals with the
diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental
illness. Causes of mental illness are complex
and may include psychological and social issues
and/or chemical or structural issues.
Clinical Symptoms: abnormalities a mental
health professional may find as evidence to
mental health disorders. There are many
psychiatric disorders, study them thoroughly
in your text.
Therapeutic Techniques
Techniques used to treat psychiatric disorders
Major therapies:
 Psychotherapy: treatment of emotional
problems using psychological techniques
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Electroconvulsive Therapy: use of electric
current applied to brain to produce changes in
brain wave patterns
Drug Therapy: use of drugs to treat such as
antidepressants; there are many in your text,
study them all.