NEET MDS Lessons
General Pathology
Malignant Diseases of Skin
1. Bowen's disease refers to a carcinoma in situ on sun-exposed skin or on the vulva, glans a penis, or oral mucosa which has an association, in some cases, with a visceral malignancy.
2. Skin cancers associated with ultraviolet light damage include basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and malignant melanoma.
3. A basal cell carcinoma is the MC malignant tumor of the skin and occurs on sunexposed, hair-bearing surfaces.
- Locally aggressive, infiltrating cancers arising from the basal cell layer of the epidermis and infiltrate the underlying superficial dermis.
- they do not metastasize
- BCC are commonly located on the face on the inner aspect of the nose, around the orbit and the upper lip where they appear as raised nodules containing a central crater with a pearly-colored skin surface and vascular channels.
- microscopically, they have cords of basophilic staining cells originating from the basal cell layer infiltrating the dermis.
- they commonly recur if they are not totally excised, because they are frequently multifocal.
- the basal cell nevus syndrome is an autosomal-dominant disorder characterized by the development of basal cell carcinomas early in life with associated abnormalities of bone, skin, nervous system, eyes, and reproductive system.
German measles (rubella)
- sometimes called "three day measles".
- incubation 14-21 days; infectious 7 days before the rash and 14 days after the onset of the rash.
- in adults, rubella present with fever, headache, and painful postauricular Lymphadenopathy 1 to 2 days prior to the onset of rash, while in children, the rash is usually the first sign.
- rash (vasculitis) consists of tiny red to pink macules (not raised) that begins on the head and spreads downwards and disappears over the ensuing 1-3 days; rash tends to become confluent.
- 1/3rd of young women develop arthritis due to immune-complexes.
- splenomegaly (50%)
Neutropenia: Neutropenia is an abnormally low number of neutrophils
Causes
-Typhoid, paratyphoid. .
-Viral and ricketseal infections.
-Malaria, Kala azar.
-Hypersplenism.
-Aplastic and megaloblastic anaemia.
-Marrow infiltration by malignancies, lymphomas etc.
-SLE.
HEALING
Definition. Replacement of damages tissue by healthy tissue. It is an attempt to restore the tissue to structural and functional normalcy.
Healing may be of 2 types
A. Regeneration.
B. Repair by granulation tissue.
A. Regeneration
Where the replacement is by proliferation of parenchymatous cells of type destroyed. This depends upon:
(1) Regenerative capacity of cells. Cells may be :
(a) Labile cells which are constantly proliferating to replace cells continuously shed off or destroyed
Epithelial cells of skin and lining surfaces.
Lymphoid and haemopoietic tissue.
(b) Stable cell. Cells mostly in resting-phase, but capable of dividing when necessary e.g.
- Liver and other parenchymatous and glandular cells.
- Connective tissue cells.
- Muscle cells have a limited capacity to divide.
(c) Permanent cell. These cells, once differentiated are not capable. of dividing e.g.-nerve
(2) The extent of tissue loss. If there is extensive destruction including disruption of the framework, complete.regeneration is not possible. even with labile an stable cell
B. Repair by granulation tissue
Granulation tissue is formed by proliferation of surrounding connective tissue elements. which migrate into the site to be repaired.
Granulation tissue formation seen in :
- Wound healing.
- Organisation of exudates.
- Thrombi.
- Infarcts.
- Haematomas.
The process of repair can be best studied in clean incised wounds, where there is .no or minimal tjssue loss or the_edges or the edges of the wound are approximated closely as in a surgical wound. This is called Primary union (healing by first intention).
1. The blood in the incised area clots and the fibrin binds the edges together.
2. During the first 24 hours, an acute inflammation sets in to .bring protein and phagocyte rich exudates to the site.
3. The superficial part of the clot get dry and dehydrated{scab). The surface epithelium proliferates just beyond the cut edges and the cells migrate-deep to dry scab. Epithelialisation is usually complete by 24- 48 hours.
4 Granulation tissue, with actively growing fibroblasts and capillary buds invades the clot (stage of vascularisation). These fibroblasts 'posses contractile myofibrils & hence are termed as myofibroblasts'.
5. Simultaneously, demolition of the debris and clot components takes place.
6 The granulation tissue initially lays down a mucopolysacharide rich ground substance
7.Reticulin and later collagen fibrils are formed by the fibroblasts (with 5 days)
8 with progressive maturation of collagen, some of the capiliary buds develop into arterioles and venules and majority of them are obliterated (stage of devascularisation).
9. With time (weeks to months) the tensile strength of the scar increases and it shrinks.
Secondary union (excised wound-healing by secondary intention).
1. Coagulum forms and fills the gap.
2. Inflammatory reaction is seen as in primary union but is more intense, as a lot more debris has to be removed. .
3. Epithelial proliferation starts covering the surface from the periphery by proliferation beyond the edges and migration under scab.
4.Debridement starts and simultaneously granulation tissue grows into the coagulum from the sides and base of the wound. This is much more exuberant than in primary union. The surface now looks red and granular.
5. Wound contraction. This is early contraction (starts after 3 days and is complete in 2 weeks) and must be differentiated from contraction after scar formation Wounds can contract by up to 80% of original size of that the gap to be filled is much reduced, resulting in faster healing with a smaller scar.
Wound contraction is probably caused by:
- Dehydration
- Collagen contraction.
- Granulation tissue contraction .(myofibroblasts).
The exact mechanism is not known.
6. Laying down of collagen.
7 Maturation to form a scar which later shrinks and devascularises.
Factors affecting wound healing
Wound healing is delayed by :
A. Local factors
1. Poor blood supply.
2. Adhesion to bony surfaces (e.g. over the tibia).
3. Persistent injurious agents (infective or particulate) results in chronicity of inflammation and ineffective healing. .
4. Constant movement (especially in fracture healing).
5. ionizing radiation (in contrast, ultraviolet rays hasten healing).
6. Neoplasia.
B. General factors
I. Nutritional deficiency, especially of.
(i) Protein
(ii) Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C).
(iii) Zinc
2. Corticoids adversely affect wound contraction and granulation tissue formation
(anabolic steroids have a favorable effect).
3. Low temperature.
4. Defects (qualitative or quantitative) in polymorphs and macrophages
.Complication of wound healing
1. Wound dehiscence
2. Infection
3. Epidermal inclusion (implantation) cysts.
4. Keloid formation
5. Cicatrisation resulting in contract Ires and obstruction(in hollow viscera).
6. Calcification and ossification.
7. Weak scar which could be a site for incisional hernia
8. Painful scar if it involves a nerve twig.
9. Rarely neoplasia (especially in burn scars).
Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi (Filariasis)
- the microfilaria of Wuchereria bancrofti or Brugia malayi (nematodes) are transmitted to man by the bite of infected mosquitoes (Anophele, Aedes, Culex).
- microfilaria characteristically circulate in the bloodstream at night and enter into the lymphatics, where they mature and produce an inflammatory reaction resulting in lymphedema (elephantiasis) of the legs, scrotum, etc.
Cytopathologic techniques
Cytopathology is the study of cells from various body sites to determine the cause or nature of disease.
Applications of cytopathology:
- Screening for the early detection of asymptomatic cancer
2. Diagnosis of symptomatic cancer
3. Surveillance of patients treated for cancer
Cytopathologic methods
There are different cytopathologic methods including:
1. Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) -In FNAC, cells are obtained by aspirating the diseased organ using a very thin needle under negative pressure.
Superficial organs (e.g. thyroid, breast, lymph nodes, skin and soft tissues) can be easily aspirated.
Deep organs, such as the lung, mediastinum, liver, pancreas, kidney, adrenal gland, and retroperitoneum are aspirated with guidance by fluoroscopy, ultrasound or CT scan.
- Exfoliative cytology
Refers to the examination of cells that are shed spontaneously into body fluids or secretions. Examples include sputum, cerebrospinal fluid, urine, effusions in body cavities (pleura, pericardium, peritoneum), nipple discharge and vaginal discharge.
- Abrasive cytology
Refers to methods by which cells are dislodged by various tools from body surfaces (skin, mucous membranes, and serous membranes). E.g. preparation of cervical smears with a spatula or a small brush to detect cancer of the uterine cervix at early stages.
Osteonecrosis (Avascular Necrosis)
Ischemic necrosis with resultant bone infarction occurs mostly due to fracture or after corticosteroid use. Microscopically, dead bon trabevulae (characterized by empty lacunae) are interspersed with areas of fat necrosis.
The cortex is usually not affected because of collateral blood supply; in subchondral infarcts, the overlying articular cartilage also remains viable because the synovial fluid can provide nutritional support. With time, osteoclasts can resorb many of the necrotic bony trabeculae; any dead bone fragments that remain act as scaffolds for new bone formation, a process called creeping substitution.
Symptoms depend on the size and location of injury. Subchondral infarcts often collapse and can lead to severe osteoarthritis.