Alpha-fetoprotein, usually shortened to AFP, is a protein made in large amounts by the liver and the yolk sac of a developing baby before birth. After birth, the amount falls steadily, and by around 8 months of age it reaches the low level found in healthy older children and adults. AFP appears in pathology and …
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The epidermis is the thin, outermost layer of your skin. It acts as a protective shield between your body and the outside world. Although it is only about as thick as a sheet of paper in most places, the epidermis plays a crucial role in preventing harmful germs, chemicals, and physical forces from damaging your …
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Benign vascular proliferation is a term pathologists use to describe a non-cancerous growth of small blood vessels. These growths are made up of endothelial cells, which are the cells that line the inside of blood vessels. The word “benign” means the lesion is not cancer, and “vascular proliferation” means there is an increased number of …
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Keratosis is a word pathologists use to describe an increased amount of keratin on the surface of squamous epithelium, the type of tissue that lines the skin, mouth, throat, esophagus, anus, cervix, and other body surfaces. Keratin is a tough, protective protein made by squamous cells. It forms the outermost layer of the skin and …
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Keratinizing refers to a process in which squamous cells produce large amounts of a protein called keratin. Keratin is a tough, protective substance that makes tissues more resistant to injury, infection, and dehydration. As squamous cells become keratinizing, they gradually lose their ability to function as living cells. Instead, they form a strong outer layer …
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The androgen receptor (AR) is a protein found in certain cells that acts as a receptor for hormones called androgens — a group that includes testosterone. When an androgen enters a cell and binds to the androgen receptor, it sends a signal to the cell’s nucleus telling it to grow and divide. In healthy tissue, …
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Intramucosal carcinoma describes an early stage of cancer where abnormal cells are still limited to a thin layer of tissue called the mucosa. Cancers treated at this stage are less likely to spread to other body parts. Is intramucosal carcinoma a type of cancer? Yes, intramucosal carcinoma is a type of cancer, but it is …
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Melanosis coli is a harmless condition that affects the large intestine (colon). In this condition, the lining of the colon turns dark brown or black due to a buildup of a pigment called lipofuscin. This pigment develops within cells that line the inside surface of the colon. Melanosis coli is noncancerous and typically related to …
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SALL4 is a protein that helps control the growth and development of cells, particularly during early human development. It is usually found in stem cells, which are special cells capable of turning into different types of tissues in the body. In adults, SALL4 is mostly seen in certain reproductive cells and tissues. Why do pathologists …
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OCT3/4 is a protein found inside certain types of cells. This protein is important because it helps maintain cells in an immature or stem cell-like state. Stem cells are special cells that can develop into many different types of cells in the body. OCT3/4 is especially important during early human development. Why do pathologists test …
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