Granulation describes the look of tissue that is healing after an injury. Without a microscope, the tissue usually looks red or pink and it often feels soft to the touch. When examined under a microscope, the tissue is made up of many small blood vessels surrounded by a combination of cells from the immune system. …
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A granuloma is a small, organized collection of immune cells that forms when the body attempts to isolate and contain something it can’t easily remove, such as certain infections, foreign materials, or other irritants. The primary type of cell found in a granuloma is the histiocyte, a kind of immune cell that helps protect the …
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Fibrosis is a process where the body forms too much fibrous connective tissue, commonly known as scar tissue, in an organ or tissue. This usually occurs as part of your body’s natural healing response after injury or long-term inflammation. While fibrosis helps repair damage, excessive scarring can cause problems by replacing healthy tissue and disrupting …
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The Fuhrman grade is a system used to classify the aggressiveness of renal cell carcinoma (RCC), which is the most common type of kidney cancer. Developed by Gary A. Fuhrman in the 1980s, this grading system helps pathologists and oncologists evaluate how cancer cells look under a microscope compared to normal kidney cells. The Fuhrman …
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Histiocytes are a type of immune cell. They help the body heal after an injury or infection by removing dead cells, blood, micro-organisms (such as bacteria and fungus), and foreign material from the body. Foamy is a term pathologists use to describe histiocytes that are full of waste removed from the surrounding tissue. Pathologists commonly …
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In pathology, the term “exophytic” refers to a growth pattern of a tumor or lesion that projects outward from the surface of the tissue. This growth pattern contrasts with endophytic growths, which extend inward into the tissue beneath the surface. Exophytic growths can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous) and are characterized by their outward …
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The estrogen receptor (ER) is a special type of protein found inside certain cells throughout the body. It belongs to a family of proteins known as nuclear hormone receptors, which control how cells respond to hormones. Specifically, estrogen receptors respond to the hormone estrogen, which plays a key role in many important functions within the …
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Dysplasia is an abnormal growth of cells within a tissue or organ. In most body parts, it is considered a precursor to cancer. Pathologists use this term when cells appear unusual or disorganized under the microscope. Unlike cancerous cells, the cells in dysplasia are still confined to their original location. Dysplasia is associated with an …
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In pathology, the term “differentiated” describes how specialized or mature the cells are within a tissue or organ. Differentiation is a natural process where cells develop unique structures and functions, allowing them to perform specific tasks in the body. Well-differentiated cells closely resemble normal, healthy cells, while less differentiated cells look more abnormal and lack …
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Epithelial cells are specialized cells normally found on the surface of an organ or tissue. They connect to form a thin barrier called an epithelium. Cancers that arise from these cells are called carcinomas. Epithelial cells are divided into different types based on their shape, size, function, and location. Some are flat and thin, some …
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