Which malignant type neoplasm is used for cancer of the epithelial tissues such as skin or stomach lining?

Appeared in: WCL Staff Nurse - 2022

Explanation

Carcinomas are malignant tumors that originate from epithelial cells.
Epithelial tissue lines the surfaces of organs and cavities throughout the body, including the skin and the lining of the stomach.
Therefore, a malignant neoplasm of epithelial tissue is correctly termed a carcinoma.
Examples include adenocarcinoma in the stomach lining and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin.

Option B: Sarcomas are cancers that arise from mesenchymal (connective) tissues, not epithelial tissues.
Option C: Leukaemia is a cancer of the body's blood-forming tissues, including the bone marrow and the lymphatic system.
Option D: Lymphomas are cancers that begin in the cells of the immune system, specifically the lymphatic system (e.g., lymph nodes, spleen).

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Classification of Malignant Neoplasms by Tissue of Origin as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Understanding the tissue of origin is fundamental in oncology nursing as it dictates the likely pattern of metastasis, the choice of chemotherapy agents, and the overall treatment plan.
For carcinomas, nurses often focus on assessing regional lymph nodes, as this is a common first site of spread. For sarcomas, they might be more alert to signs of hematogenous (blood-borne) spread.
What if? If the patient had a tumor in their thigh muscle, the classification would change to 'Sarcoma' (specifically, a soft tissue sarcoma like rhabdomyosarcoma), which has a different prognosis and treatment protocol, often involving more aggressive local control measures like surgery and radiation.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key term in the question stem: 'epithelial tissues'.
Next, recall or look up the definitions for the different types of cancer listed in the options.
Match the tissue type from the question with the correct cancer classification.
Carcinoma is defined as cancer of epithelial tissue.
Sarcoma is cancer of connective tissue.
Leukaemia is cancer of blood-forming cells.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Classification of Malignant Neoplasms by Tissue of Origin
Stem keywords: malignant neoplasm, cancer, epithelial tissues, skin, stomach lining
Lead-in keywords: Which
Negative lead-in flag: false

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