In pathology, poorly differentiated is a term used to describe how cancer cells look under a microscope. When cells are poorly differentiated, they appear very different from normal cells in the body. Normal cells are well-organized and have specific structures, but poorly differentiated cells lose these typical features, making it hard to tell where they …
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A prognosis is a doctor’s best estimate of how a disease might progress and your likelihood of recovery. Doctors commonly discuss prognosis with patients after diagnosing cancer, although the term can apply to any medical condition. If a disease is expected to respond well to treatment and is likely to be cured, it’s usually described …
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In pathology, the term precursor is used to describe any non-cancerous condition that has the potential to turn into cancer over time. Precursor diseases can be caused by viruses, genetic changes, or environmental factors such as smoking or excessive alcohol consumption. The chance that a precursor will eventually turn into cancer depends on many factors …
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Perineural invasion (PNI) is used to describe tumour cells in the space around a nerve. It is usually only seen in malignant (cancerous) tumours and used by pathologists as evidence that a tumour is malignant. PNI is important because the tumour cells can use the nerve to spread into surrounding tissues. This increases the risk …
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Definition: Plasma cells are a type of white blood cell (WBC) and part of the body’s immune system. They are part of a group of immune cells called lymphocytes. Plasma cells produce proteins called immunoglobulins (also known as antibodies) that protect our body by sticking to bacteria and viruses. Antibodies can also stick to abnormal …
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A polyp is an abnormal growth of tissue that sticks out from the surface into a hollow space or body cavity. Polyps can form almost anywhere in the body, but they’re especially common in the colon, stomach, nasal cavity, sinuses (sinonasal area), and uterus. Most polyps are harmless (benign) growths; however, some can be precancerous, …
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In pathology, the term pleomorphic is used to describe cells that appear very different from each other when viewed under a microscope. Pleomorphic cells vary significantly in size, shape, and colour. Although pathologists may describe the whole cell as pleomorphic, they usually focus on the appearance of the cell’s nucleus (the part containing genetic material …
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p53 is a protein made by a gene called TP53, which plays a critical role in protecting the body from cancer. Because of this, p53 is known as a tumor suppressor. The TP53 gene is located on chromosome 17 and provides instructions for making the p53 protein, which works like a quality control inspector inside …
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p16 is a protein produced by cells throughout the body that helps control how cells grow and divide. Because it acts as a brake on cell growth, p16 is known as a tumor suppressor protein — a protein whose normal job is to prevent cells from growing uncontrollably. In pathology, p16 is most commonly used …
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In pathology, the term papillary is used to describe finger-like projections of tissue with cells lining the outside surface of the tissue and a central fibrovascular core. Pathologists use the term micropapillary to describe similar but smaller projections of tissue. Papillary growth is most commonly seen in tumours including both benign (noncancerous) and malignant (cancerous) …
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