Which of the following is glandular tissue cancer?

AIIMS Patna NO - 2020

Pathology & Genetics

Easy

Appeared in: AIIMS Patna NO - 2020

Explanation

The term 'Adenocarcinoma' is broken down into 'adeno-' (prefix for gland) and 'carcinoma' (cancer of epithelial tissue).
Glandular tissues, which produce and secrete substances, are a type of epithelial tissue.
Therefore, adenocarcinoma is by definition a cancer that forms in the glandular tissues of the body.
Common sites for adenocarcinoma include the breast, prostate, lung, pancreas, and colon.

Option A: Liposarcoma is a cancer of fat cells (adipose tissue). Fat is a type of connective tissue, not glandular tissue. The suffix '-sarcoma' indicates a cancer of mesenchymal origin.
Option C: Neuroblastoma is a cancer that arises from immature nerve cells (neuroblasts), most commonly in the adrenal glands, neck, chest, or spinal cord. This is a cancer of nervous tissue.
Option D: Osteogenic sarcoma (or osteosarcoma) is the most common type of bone cancer. It arises from osteoblasts, which are bone-forming cells. Bone is a specialized form of connective tissue.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Classification of neoplasms based on tissue of origin as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Identifying the cell type of origin is the cornerstone of cancer diagnosis and treatment. It determines the cancer's likely behavior, its potential to metastasize, and its responsiveness to different therapies like chemotherapy, radiation, or targeted therapy.
A nurse must understand this classification to anticipate patient needs, manage treatment side effects, and provide accurate patient education about their specific diagnosis.
What if? If a biopsy revealed malignant squamous cells, it would be classified as a Squamous Cell Carcinoma, not an Adenocarcinoma. While both are carcinomas, they arise from different epithelial cell types and often have different risk factors, locations, and treatment responses (e.g., in the lung).

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core of the question, which is to find the cancer type associated with 'glandular tissue'.
Next, analyze the medical terminology of each option by breaking down the prefixes and suffixes.
The prefix 'adeno-' means gland. The suffix '-carcinoma' refers to a cancer of epithelial origin. Glands are made of epithelial tissue.
The suffix '-sarcoma' (seen in Liposarcoma and Osteogenic sarcoma) indicates a cancer of connective tissue (mesenchymal origin), such as fat ('lipo-') or bone ('osteo-').
The prefix 'neuro-' indicates nerve tissue origin.
By dissecting the terms, you can logically conclude that 'Adenocarcinoma' is the only term that describes a cancer of glandular tissue.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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