Floret-like cells are large cells with several nuclei arranged in a ring around the edge of the cell. The ring of nuclei looks like the petals of a small flower, or floret, which is how the cells got their name. They are a type of multinucleated giant cell. Floret-like cells describe what the pathologist saw …
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EMA (epithelial membrane antigen) is a protein found on the surface of many epithelial cells, the cells that line the surfaces and glands of the body. Pathologists test for EMA to help determine what type of cells make up a tumor. It is especially useful for identifying a few tumors that are not made of …
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RB1 is a gene that helps control when cells divide. It makes a protein called Rb (retinoblastoma protein). RB1 is a tumor suppressor gene, which means it normally acts as a brake on cell growth. When both copies of the gene stop working, cells can divide without control. RB1 is named after retinoblastoma, a rare …
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Melanin is the natural pigment that gives skin, hair, and eyes their color. Cells called melanocytes make it, and they live in the bottom layer of the epidermis. Melanin also protects the skin by absorbing ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun. Melanin is a normal part of the skin, not a diagnosis. IPathology reports often …
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An iron stain is a laboratory test that shows where iron is stored in a tissue sample. It colors iron bright blue so a pathologist can see it under the microscope. The most common iron stain is called Prussian blue, also known as the Perls stain. An iron stain is a special stain, not a …
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Subcutaneous tissue is the deepest layer of the skin. It lies under the dermis and above the muscle. It is made mostly of fat, also called adipose tissue. Your report may also call it the subcutis, subcutaneous fat, or hypodermis. Subcutaneous tissue is a normal part of the body, not a diagnosis. Pathology reports mention …
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Collagen is a strong, fiber-forming protein that holds the body’s tissues together. It is the body’s most common protein. Collagen gives strength to the skin, bones, tendons, ligaments, and the walls of blood vessels and organs. Cells called fibroblasts make it. Collagen is a normal part of almost every tissue sample, so its presence is …
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The dermis is the thick middle layer of the skin. It sits under the epidermis, the thin outer layer, and above the fat under the skin. The dermis gives the skin its strength and flexibility, and it contains the blood vessels, nerves, hair follicles, and glands that support the skin. The dermis is a normal …
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Hemosiderin is a golden-brown pigment made of iron. It forms when the body breaks down red blood cells and stores the iron they contained. Seeing hemosiderin in a tissue sample usually means that bleeding happened in that area at some point in the past. Hemosiderin is a description of what the pathologist saw under the …
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CD163 is a protein found on the surface of macrophages, immune cells that clean up damaged tissue, dead cells, and foreign material. In tissue, macrophages are also called histiocytes. Pathologists test for CD163 to find out whether cells in a tissue sample are macrophages or histiocytes. CD163 is a test result, not a diagnosis. It …
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