Pathologists describe cells as “cribriform” when they grow and connect in a way that forms a pattern of small holes between the cells. This growth pattern, visible only under a microscope, appears in many types of tumors and is abnormal. However, the cribriform pattern itself is not a diagnosis. Instead, pathologists consider this pattern alongside …
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Cautery artifact is a term pathologists use to describe changes in the appearance of cells and tissue caused by heat during a surgical procedure. These changes are not related to disease — they are a side effect of a common surgical tool called electrocautery, which uses electrical heat to cut tissue and seal bleeding blood …
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CD34 is a protein found on the surface of specific cells in your body, mainly stem cells (cells that can develop into various other types of cells), endothelial cells (blood vessel cells), and specific blood-forming cells. It plays an important role in cell growth and development, especially in forming new blood vessels and blood cells. …
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In medicine, the word benign describes something that is not cancer. Most often, it refers to abnormal growths or tumors — abnormal masses of cells — that stay in place and do not spread to other parts of the body. Pathologists, who are the doctors who examine tissues and cells under a microscope, use the …
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In pathology, the term atypical describes cells that look unusual or abnormal under the microscope. This term refers to changes observed in the shape, size, or structure of cells, particularly affecting the cell’s cytoplasm (the body of the cell) or the nucleus (the part that holds the genetic material). Does atypical mean malignant? No, atypical …
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Carcinoma in situ (CIS) is an early form of cancer in which abnormal cells are confined to the epithelium, the layer of tissue where they first developed, and have not yet spread into the surrounding tissue. “In situ” is Latin for “in its original place.” Because the cells have not broken through the basement membrane — the …
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Carcinoma is a type of cancer that starts in epithelial cells — the cells that line the surfaces and cavities of the body, both inside and out. Epithelial cells cover the skin, line the digestive tract, and form the inner surfaces of organs such as the lungs, breasts, prostate, and cervix. Because epithelial cells are …
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Adipose tissue, commonly known as fat, is a type of body tissue made up of cells called adipocytes. These cells store energy, help cushion and protect internal organs, and provide insulation to maintain body temperature. Adipose tissue surrounds many organs throughout the body and is a normal part of the tissue layers examined in pathology …
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Anaplastic is an adjective used to describe tumor cells that have lost the normal appearance and organization of the tissue they came from. When a pathologist describes cells or a tumor as anaplastic, it means those cells look highly abnormal under the microscope — they have shed the specialized features of normal tissue and no …
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Adenosquamous carcinoma is a type of cancer that contains two distinct cell types within the same tumor: glandular cells and squamous cells. Glandular cells normally produce and release substances such as mucus or enzymes, while squamous cells form the flat surface layers of the skin and line many internal organs. Because it contains both cell …
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