MyPathologyReport
December 7, 2023
Eukaryotic cells, including those in the human body, use a process called mitosis to divide and create new cells. An atypical mitosis is an abnormal dividing cell. As a result of this abnormal cell division, the newly created cells receive an unequal amount of genetic material (DNA) and are unable to function normally.
Atypical mitoses are commonly seen in cancers; they are rarely seen in other conditions, such as tissue that has been exposed to radiation. For this reason, pathologists use the presence of these cells when making the diagnosis of cancer.
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