Metaplastic carcinoma is a rare and aggressive type of breast cancer. It develops when cancer cells from the breast change their appearance and begin to resemble other types of cells. For example, the tumour may contain: Squamous cells (flat cells normally found on the surface of the skin and lining surfaces of the body). Spindle-shaped …
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Hallmark cells are a distinctive type of abnormal cell seen under the microscope in a cancer called anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL). These cells are a clue that helps pathologists recognize and diagnose this disease. What do hallmark cells look like? Hallmark cells are large and have a very characteristic appearance. Their nuclei, which are …
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Atypical lymphoid infiltrate is a descriptive, preliminary diagnosis. Atypical means that the cells do not look normal, but they are also not clearly cancerous. Lymphoid refers to lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell that is part of the immune system. It means the biopsy shows an unusual collection of lymphoid cells, but the sample …
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Papillae are small, finger-like projections of tissue that can be seen in many different parts of the body. Each papilla has a central core, usually made of connective tissue and small blood vessels, and is covered on the outside by a layer of cells. Papillae are a normal structure in certain organs, but they can …
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HPV, or human papillomavirus, is a very common virus that can infect the skin and mucous membranes of the body. There are more than 100 different types of HPV. Some types are considered low-risk and cause conditions like genital warts. Others are called high-risk HPV because they can cause cancer. High-risk HPV infections can affect …
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The HPV test is a laboratory test that looks for evidence of infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is a very common virus that can infect the cervix, vagina, vulva, anus, penis, and throat. Most HPV infections clear on their own, but some types of HPV can cause cancer, especially cervical cancer. The HPV …
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MLH1 promoter methylation is a change that affects the way the MLH1 gene is switched on and off. The MLH1 gene provides instructions for making a protein that repairs mistakes in DNA. When the promoter region of the gene (the “on–off switch”) becomes abnormally methylated, the MLH1 gene is turned off. As a result, the …
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Small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (SCNEC) is a rare and aggressive type of cervical cancer. It develops from small sized cancer cells that exhibit features of neuroendocrine differentiation, meaning they behave like hormone-producing cells typically found in the body. Because it is a high-grade cancer, SCNEC tends to grow quickly and spread early. This tumor can …
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Nephroblastoma, also called Wilms tumor, is a type of cancer that starts in the kidney. It is the most common kidney cancer in children. The tumor develops from early kidney cells called nephrogenic blastema, which normally form during development in the womb. Under the microscope, nephroblastoma looks similar to a developing kidney. How common is …
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POLD1 is a gene that provides instructions for making a protein called DNA polymerase delta. This protein works together with other DNA polymerases, including POLE, to copy DNA when cells divide. Like POLE, POLD1 has a proofreading function that helps correct mistakes during DNA replication. This proofreading keeps the genetic code accurate and prevents harmful …
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