Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the second most common type of lung cancer after adenocarcinoma and belongs to the group of cancers known as non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). It develops from squamous cells — flat, scale-like cells that normally line the inner walls of the larger airways in the lungs. Unlike adenocarcinoma, which usually …
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Adenocarcinoma is the most common type of lung cancer, accounting for about 40% of all lung cancer cases in North America. It belongs to the group of cancers known as non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Adenocarcinoma begins in pneumocytes — the specialized cells that line the tiny air sacs of the lungs called alveoli. Alveoli …
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Background: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland and one of the most common conditions that affect men as they get older. What are the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia? The symptoms of BPH develop because the prostate increases in size, and this growth compresses the urethra. This compression makes …
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A result of atypical glandular cells (AGC) on a Pap smear means that some of the glandular cells collected from your cervix or uterus look abnormal when examined under the microscope. Glandular cells normally line the inner canal of the cervix (endocervix) and the inner lining of the uterus (endometrium). When these cells look unusual, …
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A frozen section is a test used in pathology to provide a quick diagnosis of a tissue sample during surgery. It is called a “frozen section” because the tissue is rapidly frozen soon after it is removed from the body. This technique allows pathologists to examine the tissue under a microscope to identify disease, often …
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The gross description in a pathology report is an important section that provides a detailed description of the physical characteristics of the specimen received by the pathology lab before it undergoes any microscopic examination. This description is “gross” in that it relates to what can be observed with the naked eye, without the aid of …
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Invasive melanoma is a type of skin cancer that starts from melanocytes, the cells that produce the pigment melanin. Melanocytes are normally found in the deepest part of the epidermis (the outer layer of the skin). When melanoma first develops, the abnormal melanocytes remain confined to the epidermis — a stage called melanoma in situ. …
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Papillary thyroid carcinoma is the most common type of thyroid cancer, accounting for approximately 80 percent of all cases. It starts from follicular cells, the cells that normally make thyroid hormone. The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland at the front of the neck that helps regulate metabolism, heart rate, and body temperature. The word “papillary” …
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Invasive ductal carcinoma is the most common type of breast cancer. It starts in the epithelial cells lining the milk ducts of the breast and grows into the surrounding breast tissue. Left untreated, it can spread to other parts of the body, including the lymph nodes, bones, and lungs. The term “invasive breast carcinoma” is …
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In pathology, the term undifferentiated is used to describe a malignant (cancerous) tumour made up of cells that look nothing like normal, healthy cells. The degree of differentiation is important because it is used to determine the tumour grade and all undifferentiated tumours are considered high grade. In contrast, well differentiated tumours are considered low grade. …
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