Certified Tumor Registrar (CTR) Practice Exam

Which type of cancer is more likely to arise in Waldeyer's ring?

1. Lymphoma

2. Leukemia

3. Melanoma

4. Carcinoma

The correct answer is: Lymphoma

Lymphoma is particularly associated with Waldeyer's ring, which is a ring of lymphoid tissue located in the oropharynx, including the palatine tonsils, adenoids, and base of the tongue. This tissue is part of the immune system and is responsible for filtering out pathogens, making it susceptible to lymphoproliferative disorders such as lymphoma. Lymphoma can originate in these areas due to the high concentration of B and T lymphocytes, which are key components in the immune response. The proximity of these tissues to each other within Waldeyer's ring makes it an ideal site for the development of lymphoma, especially non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which frequently manifests in lymphoid tissues. The other options, while they relate to cancer, are less likely to arise in Waldeyer's ring. Leukemia primarily involves the blood and bone marrow rather than solid tumors in lymphoid tissue. Melanoma develops from melanocytes and is most commonly found on the skin and occasionally in other non-lymphoid sites, while carcinoma originates from epithelial cells, more often in organs lined with epithelial tissue rather than in lymphoid tissue locations like Waldeyer's ring. Thus, lymphoma is the most notable type