Wilkes University NSG 530 Advanced Pathophysiology Exam 2 (pdf) |
2026/2027 | Patho Q&A | Pathophysiology
1. A patient is diagnosed with a tumor that is well differentiated, grows
slowly, and is encapsulated. The nurse recognizes this tumor as:
A) Malignant
B) Benign
C) In situ
D) Metastatic
Correct Answer: Benign
Rationale: Benign tumors are well differentiated, grow slowly, are
encapsulated, and do not invade surrounding tissues or metastasize.
Malignant tumors are poorly differentiated, grow rapidly, are invasive, and
can metastasize. In situ lesions have not invaded surrounding tissue, and
metastatic tumors have spread distantly.
2. Which term describes a new growth that is not invasive and does not
metastasize?
A) Malignant neoplasm
B) Benign neoplasm
C) Carcinoma in situ
D) Anaplastic tumor
Correct Answer: Benign neoplasm
Rationale: A benign neoplasm is a new growth that is not invasive and does
not metastasize. Malignant neoplasms are invasive and can metastasize.
Carcinoma in situ is an early-stage cancer that has not invaded surrounding
tissue.
,3. A tumor is described as poorly differentiated with a high mitotic index. The
nurse understands this is characteristic of:
A) Benign tumor
B) Malignant tumor
C) Dysplasia
D) Metaplasia
Correct Answer: Malignant tumor
Rationale: Malignant tumors grow rapidly, are not encapsulated, are invasive,
poorly differentiated, and have a high mitotic index. Benign tumors are well
differentiated with a low mitotic index. Dysplasia and metaplasia are cellular
adaptations, not tumors.
4. Which statement accurately describes the difference between a benign
and a malignant tumor?
A) Benign tumors are always fatal; malignant tumors are not
B) Benign tumors are poorly differentiated; malignant tumors are well
differentiated
C) Benign tumors are encapsulated and non-invasive; malignant tumors are
invasive and can metastasize
D) Benign tumors have a high mitotic index; malignant tumors have a low
mitotic index
Correct Answer: Benign tumors are encapsulated and non-invasive;
malignant tumors are invasive and can metastasize
,Rationale: Benign tumors are encapsulated, non-invasive, well differentiated,
and have a low mitotic index. Malignant tumors are invasive, poorly
differentiated, have a high mitotic index, and can metastasize.
5. A patient's biopsy report indicates "carcinoma in situ." The nurse
understands this means:
A) The cancer has metastasized to distant sites
B) The cancer has invaded surrounding tissue
C) The cancer has not invaded surrounding tissue
D) The cancer is benign
Correct Answer: The cancer has not invaded surrounding tissue
Rationale: Carcinoma in situ is an early stage of cancer where the abnormal
cells have not invaded surrounding tissue. It is considered a preinvasive
stage of malignancy.
6. According to cancer staging, Stage IV cancer is characterized by:
A) No metastasis
B) Local invasion only
C) Spread to regional structures
D) Distant metastasis
Correct Answer: Distant metastasis
Rationale: Cancer staging describes the extent of cancer spread: Stage I =
no metastasis, Stage II = local invasion, Stage III = spread to regional
structures, and Stage IV = distant metastasis.
, 7. Which gene type, when mutated, promotes cancer by stimulating cell
growth and division?
A) Tumor suppressor gene
B) Oncogene
C) DNA repair gene
D) Apoptosis gene
Correct Answer: Oncogene
Rationale: Oncogenes promote cancer by stimulating cell growth and division
when mutated or overexpressed. Tumor suppressor genes normally inhibit
cell growth; their loss of function can lead to cancer.
8. A patient is diagnosed with a cancer that has spread through the
lymphatic system. The nurse recognizes this process as:
A) Angiogenesis
B) Metastasis
C) Carcinogenesis
D) Anaplasia
Correct Answer: Metastasis
Rationale: Metastasis is the spread of cancer from the primary site to distant
locations via lymphatic channels or blood vessels. Angiogenesis is the
formation of new blood vessels, carcinogenesis is the development of cancer,
and anaplasia is loss of differentiation.
9. Which cancers are most strongly associated with tobacco use?
A) Skin and bone cancers
2026/2027 | Patho Q&A | Pathophysiology
1. A patient is diagnosed with a tumor that is well differentiated, grows
slowly, and is encapsulated. The nurse recognizes this tumor as:
A) Malignant
B) Benign
C) In situ
D) Metastatic
Correct Answer: Benign
Rationale: Benign tumors are well differentiated, grow slowly, are
encapsulated, and do not invade surrounding tissues or metastasize.
Malignant tumors are poorly differentiated, grow rapidly, are invasive, and
can metastasize. In situ lesions have not invaded surrounding tissue, and
metastatic tumors have spread distantly.
2. Which term describes a new growth that is not invasive and does not
metastasize?
A) Malignant neoplasm
B) Benign neoplasm
C) Carcinoma in situ
D) Anaplastic tumor
Correct Answer: Benign neoplasm
Rationale: A benign neoplasm is a new growth that is not invasive and does
not metastasize. Malignant neoplasms are invasive and can metastasize.
Carcinoma in situ is an early-stage cancer that has not invaded surrounding
tissue.
,3. A tumor is described as poorly differentiated with a high mitotic index. The
nurse understands this is characteristic of:
A) Benign tumor
B) Malignant tumor
C) Dysplasia
D) Metaplasia
Correct Answer: Malignant tumor
Rationale: Malignant tumors grow rapidly, are not encapsulated, are invasive,
poorly differentiated, and have a high mitotic index. Benign tumors are well
differentiated with a low mitotic index. Dysplasia and metaplasia are cellular
adaptations, not tumors.
4. Which statement accurately describes the difference between a benign
and a malignant tumor?
A) Benign tumors are always fatal; malignant tumors are not
B) Benign tumors are poorly differentiated; malignant tumors are well
differentiated
C) Benign tumors are encapsulated and non-invasive; malignant tumors are
invasive and can metastasize
D) Benign tumors have a high mitotic index; malignant tumors have a low
mitotic index
Correct Answer: Benign tumors are encapsulated and non-invasive;
malignant tumors are invasive and can metastasize
,Rationale: Benign tumors are encapsulated, non-invasive, well differentiated,
and have a low mitotic index. Malignant tumors are invasive, poorly
differentiated, have a high mitotic index, and can metastasize.
5. A patient's biopsy report indicates "carcinoma in situ." The nurse
understands this means:
A) The cancer has metastasized to distant sites
B) The cancer has invaded surrounding tissue
C) The cancer has not invaded surrounding tissue
D) The cancer is benign
Correct Answer: The cancer has not invaded surrounding tissue
Rationale: Carcinoma in situ is an early stage of cancer where the abnormal
cells have not invaded surrounding tissue. It is considered a preinvasive
stage of malignancy.
6. According to cancer staging, Stage IV cancer is characterized by:
A) No metastasis
B) Local invasion only
C) Spread to regional structures
D) Distant metastasis
Correct Answer: Distant metastasis
Rationale: Cancer staging describes the extent of cancer spread: Stage I =
no metastasis, Stage II = local invasion, Stage III = spread to regional
structures, and Stage IV = distant metastasis.
, 7. Which gene type, when mutated, promotes cancer by stimulating cell
growth and division?
A) Tumor suppressor gene
B) Oncogene
C) DNA repair gene
D) Apoptosis gene
Correct Answer: Oncogene
Rationale: Oncogenes promote cancer by stimulating cell growth and division
when mutated or overexpressed. Tumor suppressor genes normally inhibit
cell growth; their loss of function can lead to cancer.
8. A patient is diagnosed with a cancer that has spread through the
lymphatic system. The nurse recognizes this process as:
A) Angiogenesis
B) Metastasis
C) Carcinogenesis
D) Anaplasia
Correct Answer: Metastasis
Rationale: Metastasis is the spread of cancer from the primary site to distant
locations via lymphatic channels or blood vessels. Angiogenesis is the
formation of new blood vessels, carcinogenesis is the development of cancer,
and anaplasia is loss of differentiation.
9. Which cancers are most strongly associated with tobacco use?
A) Skin and bone cancers
