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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In pathology, the term ‘reactive changes’ is used to describe cells or tissues that look abnormal as a result of alterations in their environment. These changes can include infection, physical injury, medication, and inflammation. By definition, these changes are benign (non-cancerous) in nature. Anything that alters the environment of a tissue can cause the cells …
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Tubal metaplasia is a non-cancerous (benign) change where the normal cells in an organ or tissue are replaced by cells that look like those normally found in the fallopian tube. These tubal-type cells often have tiny hair-like structures called cilia. Cilia help move fluid or mucus across the surface of the tissue, similar to how …
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The uterus, also called the womb, is a hollow, muscular organ in the female pelvis. It has an upside-down pear shape. It sits between the urinary bladder in front and the rectum behind. A pregnancy grows inside the uterus. A pathologist examines tissue from the uterus after a biopsy or a hysterectomy, which is surgery …
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Eosinophils are a type of white blood cell (WBC) and a part of the body’s innate immune system. They help protect the body against allergens and infections. When examined under the microscope, eosinophils are small cells with bright pink cytoplasm. The cytoplasm of the cell is filled with small round granules and the nucleus has …
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Direct immunofluorescence (DIF) is a specialized laboratory test pathologists use to identify specific proteins within a tissue sample. This test involves using antibodies attached to a fluorescent dye that glows brightly under a special microscope. By lighting up these proteins, DIF helps pathologists see their location and pattern within the tissue. Why is direct immunofluorescence …
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Non-necrotizing granulomatous inflammation means the pathologist found granulomas without dead tissue in their centers. Granulomas are small clusters of immune cells. They form when the immune system walls off something it cannot easily remove. Many conditions can cause this pattern, including sarcoidosis, Crohn’s disease, reactions to foreign material, and some infections. This finding is not …
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Necrotizing granulomatous inflammation is a specific pattern of long-standing or chronic inflammation seen under the microscope. It occurs when the immune system attempts to isolate and eliminate a harmful substance, such as an infection, foreign material, or a component of an autoimmune response. The word “necrotizing” refers to the presence of dead tissue in the …
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In pathology, the term “focal” refers to something that is localized or limited to a specific area or spot, rather than being diffusely spread out or affecting a large area of tissue. When used to describe disease processes, abnormalities, or lesions, “focal” indicates that the changes or effects are confined to one or relatively small, …
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In pathology, distal is a location word. It describes a part of the body, an organ, or a tissue sample that is farther away from a reference point. Depending on what is being described, that reference point is either the center of the body or the place where a structure begins. The opposite of distal …
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