High grade dysplasia is a precancerous condition made up of cells that look very abnormal under the microscope. These abnormal cells differ significantly from healthy cells in both their size and shape, and they are often arranged in a disorganized manner within the tissue. Although these cells are not yet cancerous, they have a high …
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In pathology, the term low grade describes cells that look abnormal under the microscope but still share some features with normal, healthy cells. To determine if cells are low grade, pathologists compare them to the normal cells typically found in the same part of the body. Low grade is different from high grade, which describes cells that …
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In pathology, cytologic atypia describes cells that look abnormal when examined under a microscope. Cells may show cytologic atypia because of their shape, size, or colour. These changes can affect the cytoplasm (body) of the cell or the nucleus (the part of the cell that holds the genetic material). Does cytologic atypia mean the cells …
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What are the interstitial cells of Cajal? Interstitial cells of Cajal are specialized cells that are normally found throughout the gastrointestinal tract, from the esophagus to the rectum. These cells receive signals from the nervous system and in turn, cause alternating contraction and relaxation of the muscular wall helping to move food through the gastrointestinal …
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In pathology, extraparenchymal extension (EPE) refers to the invasion (spread) of a tumor beyond the main tissue mass (the parenchyma) of an organ into surrounding tissues. This term is often used in the context of malignant (cancerous) tumours to describe tumor growth extending beyond the organ’s boundary and into adjacent structures or tissues. Why is …
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What does parenchyma mean? In pathology, the term parenchyma refers to the tissue normally found within an organ. Specifically, it is made up of cells that carry out the specific function of the organ. As a result, the types of cells found in the parenchyma will depend on the organ being examined. For example, the …
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Fat necrosis is a condition that happens when fat tissue in the body is damaged and the fat cells (adipose cells) die. The body responds by breaking down the dead cells and often replacing them with scar tissue. This process can result in firm, rounded, or irregular lumps in the affected area. These lumps may …
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Fibrinoid necrosis is a specific type of tissue damage characterized by the buildup of fibrin-like material in tissues, especially within blood vessel walls. It usually occurs when blood vessels become severely injured due to immune reactions or high blood pressure. The name “fibrinoid” comes from its similarity to fibrin, a protein normally involved in blood …
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What is MDM2? MDM2 is a gene that promotes cell division (the creation of new cells). Normal cells and those in non-cancerous tumours have two copies of the MDM2 gene. In contrast, cancerous tumours such as atypical lipomatous tumour/well differentiated liposarcoma have more than two copies of the MDM2 gene. How do pathologists test for …
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The Nottingham histologic grade (or modified Scarff-Bloom-Richardson grade) is a system pathologists use to evaluate breast cancer under the microscope. It helps determine the aggressiveness of the cancer and provides important information for planning treatment. The grade is based on how different the cancer cells look from normal breast cells and how quickly they are …
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