Laryngeal amyloidosis is an uncommon condition in which an abnormal protein called amyloid builds up in the tissues of the larynx, the voice box. The deposits make the affected tissue thicker and stiffer, which is why the condition usually affects the voice and, when the buildup is larger, breathing. It is found most often in …
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Amyloid is an abnormal protein that folds into the wrong shape and accumulates in body tissues as dense, insoluble deposits. In healthy cells, proteins fold correctly and perform their normal functions. In some diseases, certain proteins misfold and clump together into a distinctive structure — one that the body cannot easily break down or clear …
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A plasmacytoma is a tumor made up of plasma cells, a type of immune cell that lives in the bone marrow and makes antibodies (immunoglobulins) to help fight infections. In a plasmacytoma, these plasma cells grow abnormally and form a single tumor or mass. When the tumor forms inside a bone, it is called a …
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Medullary thyroid carcinoma is a rare type of thyroid cancer that starts from C cells (also called parafollicular cells). The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland at the front of the neck. Most thyroid cancers begin in follicular cells, which make thyroid hormone. Medullary thyroid carcinoma differs because it arises from C cells, which produce a hormone …
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