Topics for General and Systemic Pathology
Find educational topics for General and Systemic Pathology aligned with the Zambian tertiary curriculum.
Malignant Melanoma
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This topic addresses malignant melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer arising from melanocytes. Zambian university students will learn the major risk factors, including sunlight exposure (especially in light-skinned individuals), the presence of pre-existing nevi (particularly dysplastic nevi), and hereditary factors. The core of the topic is the recognition …
Premalignant Skin Lesions: Actinic Keratosis
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This topic covers actinic keratosis, a common premalignant lesion of the epidermis resulting from chronic sun damage. Zambian tertiary students in dermatology and pathology will learn that these lesions represent epidermal dysplasia and are considered direct precursors to squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). They typically appear as rough, scaly, sandpaper-like patches …
Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Skin
2 Questions
This topic details squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), a common malignant tumor of keratinocytes and the second most common skin cancer. Zambian university students will study its strong association with chronic UV radiation exposure, which causes cumulative DNA damage. Other predisposing factors include industrial carcinogens, chronic ulcers, old burn scars, immunosuppression, …
Basal Cell Carcinoma of the Skin
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This topic focuses on basal cell carcinoma (BCC), the most common skin cancer worldwide, arising from basal cells of the epidermis. Zambian tertiary students will learn that BCC is strongly linked to chronic sun exposure and is most common in lightly pigmented individuals. It is characterized by local invasiveness but …
Arthropod Reactions and Infestations
5 Questions
This topic explores the various ways arthropods (including insects, arachnids, and mites) can cause skin lesions, a common clinical problem in tropical and subtropical regions like Zambia. Students will learn the mechanisms: direct irritant effects, immediate or delayed hypersensitivity reactions (which can range from simple pruritus to anaphylaxis), specific venom …
Secondary Adrenocortical Insufficiency
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This topic covers secondary adrenocortical insufficiency, which results from inadequate stimulation of the adrenal cortex due to deficiency of ACTH from the pituitary or CRH from the hypothalamus. Zambian tertiary students will learn the most common cause is prolonged administration of exogenous glucocorticoids, which suppresses the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Other …
Ectopic ACTH Syndrome
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This topic addresses a specific cause of Cushing syndrome: ectopic ACTH production by non-endocrine tumors. Zambian university students in oncology and endocrinology will learn that the most common tumor responsible is small cell carcinoma of the lung, though other neuroendocrine tumors can also secrete ACTH or, rarely, CRH. This results …
Familial Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma (FMTC)
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This topic covers Familial Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma (FMTC), a variant of the Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type II (MEN II) syndrome. Zambian tertiary students will learn that FMTC is characterized by a strong hereditary predisposition to medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) without the other clinical manifestations of MEN IIA (pheochromocytoma, parathyroid hyperplasia) …
Adrenal Cortical Neoplasms: Adenoma vs. Carcinoma
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This topic focuses on differentiating between adrenal cortical adenomas and carcinomas, which are primary neoplasms of the adrenal cortex. Zambian tertiary students in pathology, endocrinology, and oncology will learn that adenomas are common, usually small, benign, and non-functional or associated with hormone overproduction syndromes like Cushing's or Conn's. Adrenal cortical …