In pathology, the term “amorphous” describes the appearance of material or tissue that lacks a defined shape or structure when viewed under a microscope. This term is used to characterize substances or cellular debris that do not have a recognizable cellular or tissue architecture, appearing as shapeless, unstructured masses. Amorphous material can be found in …
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In pathology, the term neuroendocrine differentiation refers to the presence of cells that show characteristics of both nerve cells (neurons) and hormone-producing (endocrine) cells. This means that the cells have features allowing them to produce, store, and release hormones, similar to how certain cells in the body’s nervous and endocrine systems operate. This trait can …
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Macrophages are a type of white blood cell (WBC) that play an important role in the immune system, particularly in a process called phagocytosis, where they engulf and digest pathogens (viruses and bacteria), dead cells, and cellular debris. They start their life as monocytes, a type of blood cell, that migrate from the blood to …
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The term “peripheral nerve sheath tumour” (PNST) refers to a group of tumours that arise from the nerve sheath, which is the protective covering of the peripheral nerves. These nerves are the ones that extend outside the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) to the rest of the body. The nerve sheath is made …
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In pathology, the term “blastoid” refers to cells that have features resembling immature precursor cells, known as blasts, which are typically found in the bone marrow. These cells are generally considered abnormal and can be indicative of aggressive and rapidly proliferating diseases, often seen in certain types of cancers. Microscopic features of blastoid cells Blastoid …
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In pathology, the term “blasts” refers to immature cells that are in the early stages of development into mature cells. These cells are typically found in the bone marrow, where they are part of the normal process of blood cell formation, known as hematopoiesis. Blasts can develop into various types of blood cells, such as …
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Calcitonin is a hormone that helps regulate calcium levels in the blood by lowering them when they become too high. It achieves this by slowing down the activity of osteoclasts, the cells responsible for bone resorption (the process of breaking down bone tissue and releasing minerals such as calcium into the bloodstream). Calcitonin is primarily …
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In pathology, the term malignant transformation describes the development of a malignant (cancerous) tumour from a benign (noncancerous) tumour or a precancerous disease. Malignant transformation is important because the cells in the malignant tumour can grow into nearby tissues and metastasize (spread) to distant organs such as lymph nodes and the lungs. Common conditions that …
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Edematous is a term used to describe the accumulation of clear, water-like fluid inside tissue. It is also called edema. A tissue becomes edematous when a specialized type of fluid called serum leaks out of blood vessels and into the surrounding tissue. Tissue can become edematous as a result of congestive heart failure, liver disease, …
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Chromogranin is a type of protein found primarily in neuroendocrine cells. There are three chromogranin proteins encoded by the CHGA (chromogranin A), CHGB (chromogranin B), and CHGC (chromogranin C) genes. What does chromogranin do? Chromogranins play important roles in the regulated secretion of hormones and specialized proteins called neuropeptides. They are present in small intracellular …
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