An Incomplete Medical Physics Review

Pathology

Neoplastic Diseases

Sarcoma is most likely secondary cancer from radiation therapy.

Leukemia and lymphoma are cancers with shortest latency periods.

Adenoma: A benign epithelial tumor of glandular ("adeno") origin. Common for pituitary

Breast cancer metastasizes to bone then lung, liver, lymph nodes, brain. 

Breast cancer is mostly ductal then lobular. Inflammatory is most dangerous (uncommon)

HR+ breast cancer: has hormone receptors and can be affected by endocrine hormones (estrogen or progesterone), suppressors of which can be used in treatment.
Some types have too many copies of HER2 gene can will respond to targeted therapies

 

 

 

Inflammatory

Sarcoidosis: inflammatory disease, granulomas (small nodules) for on lungs, lymph nodes, other organs. Cause unknown.

Cystisis: inflammation of the bladder

Liver cirrhosis: cells destroyed and replaced by fatty and fibrous tissues (scarring). Surround blood vessels and impeded circulation. Results in hypertension and internal bleeding. Caused by alcohol, hepatitis, poisons.

Trauma

Atelectasis: Collapsed lung

Benign Disease

Prolactinoma: benign tumor of pituitary causing excess production of prolactin (breast milk production)

 

Cardiovascular Diseases

Pathologic Conditions

Arrhythmias:  abnormal heart rhythms

Bradycardia:  Failure of proper conduction of impulses from the SA node through the AV node to the atrioventricular bundle

Fibrillation:  Very rapid, random, inefficient, and irregular contractions of the heart (350 beats or more per minute)

Congenital Heart Disease:  Abnormalities in the heart at birth

Congestive Heart Failure:  Heart is unable to pump its required amount of blood

Coronary Artery Disease:  Disease of the arteries surrounding the heart

Endocarditis:  Inflammation of the inner lining of the heart

Murmur:  Extra heart sound, heard between normal beats

Pericarditis:  Inflammation of the membrane surrounding the heart

Rheumatic Heart Disease:  Heart disease caused by rheumatic fever

Aneurysm:  Local widening of an arterial wall

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT):  Blood clot forms in a large vein, usually in a lower limb

Hypertension (HTN):  High blood pressure

Varicose Veins:  Abnormally swollen and twisted veins, usually occurring in the legs

Atrial fibrillation (AF or A-fib): abnormal heart rhythm characterized by rapid and irregular beating.

Cardiomyopathy: disorder of the heart muscle

Cardiac dysrhythmia: abnormal heart rhythm

Stroke: Rupture or occlusion of blood vessels leading to lack of oxygen to brain. Loss of function, ischemia, hemorrhage

Laboratory Test & Clinical Procedures

Cardiac Biomarkers:  Chemicals are measured in the blood as evidence of a heart attack

Lipid Tests:  Measurement of cholesterol and triglycerides (fats) in a blood sample

Angiography:  X-ray imaging blood vessels after injection of contract material

Doppler Ultrasound Studies:  Sound waves measure blood flow within blood vessels

Echocardiography (ECHO):  Echoes generated by high-frequency sound waves produce images of the heart

Cardiac Catheterization:  Thin, flexible tube is guided into the heart via a vein or an artery

Electrocardiography:  Recording of electricity flowing through the heart

Stress Test:  Exercise tolerance test (ETT) determines the heart’s response to physical exertion

Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG):  Arteries and veins are anastomosed to coronary arteries to detour around blockages

Endarterectomy:  Surgical removal of plaque form the inner layer of an artery

Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI):  Balloon-tipped catheter is inserted into a coronary artery to open the artery; stents are put in place

Thrombolytic Therapy:  Drugs to dissolve clots are injected into the bloodstream of patients with coronary thrombosis

Neurological

Meningioma: tumor arising in the meninges, the structure surrounding the brain and spinal cord, often benign

Multiple Sclerosis: CNS disease, "hardening". Immune system attacks the protective myelin sheath and causes communication problems. Image using MRI.

Myelopathy: Disease of spinal cord (e.g., from radiation, so usually kept <45 Gy)


Tags: Pathology


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