Squamous cell carcinoma is a type of cancer that starts in the anus or anal canal, which is the opening at the end of the digestive tract. This cancer develops from squamous cells, which are flat cells that normally line the surface of the anal canal. Anal squamous cell carcinoma usually grows slowly at first …
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Kaposi sarcoma is a type of cancer made up of abnormal blood vessel cells. It is classified as a sarcoma — a cancer that starts in the body’s connective tissues, which include blood vessels, fat, muscle, and fibrous tissue. Kaposi sarcoma most often appears as red, purple, or brown patches or nodules on the skin, …
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The phrase negative for malignancy means that no cancer cells were seen when the tissue or cell sample was examined under the microscope. In pathology, the term malignant is used to describe cancer, so “negative for malignancy” means that the sample does not show any signs of cancer. This result is reassuring, but it is …
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The phrase positive for malignancy means that cancer cells were seen in the tissue or cell sample when it was examined under the microscope. In pathology, the term malignant is used to describe cancer, and positive means that something—in this case, cancer—was found. This phrase is commonly used in small tissue samples, such as core …
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KRAS is a gene found in nearly all cells in the body. Genes are instructions made of DNA that tell cells how to grow, divide, and function. The KRAS gene provides instructions for making a protein that helps control how cells respond to growth signals. KRAS is also considered a biomarker. A biomarker is a …
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Small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) is a slow-growing (indolent) blood cancer that starts in B cells — the white blood cells that help the body fight infections. It is defined by the accumulation of abnormal small B cells in the lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow, and other tissues. SLL is biologically identical to chronic lymphocytic leukemia …
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Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common type of leukemia in adults. It is a slow-growing (indolent) blood cancer that starts in B cells — the white blood cells that help the body fight infections by producing antibodies. In CLL, a single abnormal B cell multiplies uncontrollably, producing a large population of abnormal identical …
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Tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) are special immune cells that have moved from the bloodstream directly into a tumour. They are part of your body’s natural immune response, which aims to identify and attack cancer cells. Some cancer treatments, known as immune checkpoint inhibitors (such as PD-L1 inhibitors), work by helping these immune cells function better, preventing cancer …
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Immature teratoma of the ovary is a rare type of malignant (cancerous) ovarian tumor. Despite sharing the word “teratoma” with the common, noncancerous mature teratoma (also called a dermoid cyst), an immature teratoma is a fundamentally different diagnosis — one that requires careful staging and, in many cases, treatment beyond surgery. The word “immature” refers …
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Follicular thyroid carcinoma is a type of thyroid cancer that starts from follicular cells, the cells that normally make thyroid hormone. The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland at the front of the neck that helps regulate metabolism, heart rate, and body temperature. Follicular thyroid carcinoma is a well-differentiated cancer, meaning the tumor cells still look …
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