In pathology, the term atypia describes cells that look abnormal when examined under the microscope. These changes can affect the cytoplasm (body) of the cell or the nucleus (the part of the cell that holds the genetic material).
Atypia does not necessarily mean malignant (cancerous). While malignant tumors commonly contain cells with atypia, these changes can also occur in many non-cancerous conditions. Your pathologist will consider these findings alongside other test results and your medical history to determine the exact significance of atypia in your case.
Cells with atypia can indeed be part of benign (non-cancerous) conditions. However, atypia is also frequently seen in precancerous or cancerous conditions. Because of this, your doctor may recommend additional tests or regular monitoring to better understand the significance of the atypia.
There are many reasons why cells may show atypia. Common causes include:
It is important to remember that atypia describes how the cells look under the microscope. It is not a complete diagnosis. Your pathologist will often try to determine the cause of this change. If the cause is known, it will be described in your pathology report. However, your doctor may only be able to determine the cause later with the help of additional information about you and your medical history.
Under the microscope, cells with atypia often have irregular shapes, sizes, or structures. Their nuclei may appear enlarged or abnormally shaped, and the genetic material within the nuclei may look different from normal. The cell boundaries might be unclear, and cells can vary greatly from the healthy cells around them. These microscopic details allow pathologists to detect atypia and investigate further to identify the underlying cause.
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.