Endophytic


August 1, 2023


endophytic

In pathology, the term endophytic describes an abnormal growth that extends down from the surface of the tissue into the organ or tissue below. This pattern of growth can usually only be seen when the tissue is examined under a microscope by a pathologist. Pathologists sometimes use the word ‘inverted’ to describe an endophytic pattern of growth. The opposite of endophytic is exophytic.

The term endophytic can be used to describe both benign (non-cancerous) growths and malignant (cancerous) tumours. However, endophytic is not a diagnosis by itself. It is a description of the changes seen under the microscope. The word endophytic should be considered together with the other information in your pathology report such as the types of cells in the growth and the size.

About this article

Doctors wrote this article to help you read and understand your pathology report. Contact us if you have questions about this article or your pathology report. For a complete introduction to your pathology report, read this article.

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