December 1, 2023
A fibrovascular core is a microscopic structure made up of fibrous tissue and blood vessels found inside finger-like projections called papillae. These finger-like projections are commonly found in a variety of benign (noncancerous) growths such as papillomas and malignant (cancerous) tumours such as papillary thyroid carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the lung. The fibrovascular core helps provide structure and nourishment to the cells on the outside surface of the papillae.
Under the microscope, a fibrovascular core appears as a well-vascularized connective tissue stalk or center surrounded by other cell types or structures, depending on the specific condition. In polyps or papillomas, the core is covered by epithelial cells that proliferate around the vascular and fibrous scaffold. The fibrous component usually consists of collagen produced by fibroblasts, appearing as pink strands or areas in hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained sections. The vascular components, including small blood vessels, are lined by endothelial cells and can be seen as spaces or channels within the fibrous tissue.
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