ABS CGSO flashcards

31 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

TNM staging components

T describes primary tumor size or invasion, N describes regional lymph node involvement, and M describes distant metastasis. Prefixes such as c, p, and y denote clinical, pathologic, and post-neoadjuvant staging.

Carcinoma of unknown primary

A biopsy-proven metastatic malignancy with no identifiable primary after thorough evaluation. Immunohistochemistry and clinical pattern guide the presumed origin, and most cases receive empiric systemic therapy.

Paraneoplastic syndrome

Symptoms caused by a tumor's remote effects rather than direct invasion or metastasis. Examples include SIADH, hypercalcemia, Cushing syndrome, and Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome.

GIST diagnostic markers

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors typically express KIT (CD117) and DOG1. Activating KIT or PDGFRA mutations guide treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors such as imatinib.

Liquid biopsy

Analysis of circulating tumor DNA or tumor cells in blood. It supports genotyping when tissue is inadequate and detects minimal residual disease, but a negative result does not exclude cancer.

Tumor grade versus stage

Grade describes how differentiated the tumor cells are, while stage describes anatomic extent. Both are independent prognostic factors and both should be reported.

NUT midline carcinoma

A rare, aggressive carcinoma defined by rearrangement of the NUTM1 gene, often presenting in midline structures. It is poorly differentiated and generally responds poorly to conventional therapy.

Second pathology review

Independent re-examination of slides by a second pathologist. It is recommended for rare, ambiguous, or unexpected diagnoses because it frequently changes interpretation and treatment.

Multidisciplinary tumor board

A meeting where surgery, medical oncology, radiation oncology, pathology, radiology, and supportive care jointly review cases and document a consensus management plan.

Neoadjuvant versus adjuvant therapy

Neoadjuvant therapy is given before planned surgery to shrink tumor or assess biology. Adjuvant therapy is given after complete resection to reduce the risk of recurrence.

Concurrent chemoradiation

Delivery of systemic chemotherapy together with radiation. It is standard for locally advanced head and neck, cervical, and lung cancers and increases both efficacy and toxicity.

ECOG performance status

A 0 to 4 scale of functional status, from fully active to completely disabled. It predicts treatment tolerance and guides selection of intensive versus reduced regimens.

Treatment intent

An explicit designation of therapy as curative, disease-controlling, or purely symptomatic. Intent determines acceptable toxicity and the choice of regimen.

Fertility preservation counseling

Discussion of gonadotoxic treatment risk and options such as sperm banking, oocyte or embryo cryopreservation, and ovarian transposition. It should occur before therapy begins.

Geriatric oncology assessment

Evaluation of function, cognition, nutrition, polypharmacy, and falls risk in older adults. These domains modify treatment intensity more than chronologic age alone.

Cancer prehabilitation

Exercise, nutrition, and psychological optimization before cancer treatment. It improves functional reserve and reduces postoperative complications and treatment-related deconditioning.

Lymphedema risk factors

Axillary or inguinal lymph node dissection and regional radiation increase lymphedema risk. Management includes compression garments, manual lymphatic drainage, and supervised exercise.

Cancer-related fatigue management

Fatigue is managed with graded aerobic and resistance exercise plus sleep and psychosocial interventions. Prolonged rest alone worsens deconditioning and should be avoided.

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy

Nerve damage from agents such as platinum compounds, taxanes, and vinca alkaloids. It causes sensory loss and increases fall risk, so balance training and gait aids are used.

Pathologic fracture risk

Bone metastases and multiple myeloma weaken bone and may fracture under load. Weight-bearing activity should be modified and weight-bearing status clarified with the treating team.

Head and neck rehabilitation

Swallowing therapy, trismus exercises, speech therapy, and shoulder mobility training after neck dissection. These address aspiration risk and functional loss from surgery and radiation.

Cognitive rehabilitation

Structured retraining of attention, memory, and executive function for patients with brain tumors or post-treatment cognitive change. Caregiver training supports daily function.

Vocational rehabilitation

Support for returning to work during survivorship. Fatigue, neuropathy, and cognitive change are common barriers, and workplace accommodation planning improves outcomes.

HPV vaccination

Primary prevention against human papillomavirus, which causes cervical, anal, and oropharyngeal cancers. Vaccination before exposure provides the greatest benefit.

Lung cancer screening

Low-dose computed tomography in high-risk smokers. It reduces lung cancer mortality but carries false-positive and overdiagnosis harms, so eligibility criteria must be applied.

Hereditary cancer syndromes

Inherited conditions such as BRCA1/2, Lynch syndrome, FAP, and Li-Fraumeni. They require genetic counseling, cascade testing of relatives, and syndrome-specific surveillance.

Screening overdiagnosis

Detection of a cancer that would never have caused symptoms or death. It leads to unnecessary treatment and is a major harm weighed against screening benefit.

Patient navigation

A program using trained navigators to help patients overcome logistical, financial, and cultural barriers to screening and treatment. It reduces disparities in cancer care.

Informed consent for research

Disclosure of purpose, risks, benefits, alternatives, and confidentiality, plus the voluntary right to withdraw. It must be documented before enrollment in a study.

Clinical equipoise

Genuine uncertainty within the expert community about which treatment is superior. It is the ethical basis for randomizing participants in a controlled trial.

Implementation science

The study of methods to translate proven interventions into routine practice. It addresses adoption, fidelity, and sustainability of evidence-based cancer prevention and care.