Diffuse

by Jason Wasserman MD PhD FRCPC
June 1, 2022

What does diffuse mean in a pathology report?

Pathologists use the word diffuse to describe something seen throughout the tissue sample examined. Diffuse changes can be seen when the tissue is examined by eye (this is called the gross examination) or under the microscope. The opposite of diffuse is focal. Focal is a word pathologists use to describe something seen in only a small part of the tissue sample examined. Like diffuse, focal changes can be seen when the tissue is examined by eye or under the microscope.

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