Focal



What does focal mean?

Focal is a word pathologists use to describe something seen in only a small part of the tissue sample examined. Focal changes can be seen when the tissue is examined by eye (this is called the gross examination) or under the microscope.

The opposite of focal is diffuse. Pathologists use the word diffuse to describe something seen throughout the tissue sample examined. Like focal, diffuse changes can be seen when the tissue is examined by eye or under the microscope.

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