Polymerase chain reaction (commonly called PCR) is a laboratory technique used to produce millions of copies of a specific DNA segment. This process allows doctors to detect even very small amounts of genetic material in a sample. PCR is widely used in medicine, including in pathology, to diagnose infections, identify cancer-related mutations, and help guide …
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Molecular testing is a type of laboratory testing that searches for specific changes in the genetic material (DNA or RNA) or proteins inside your cells. These changes can help doctors better understand the cause of a disease, how it might behave, and which treatments are most likely to be effective. Molecular testing is often performed …
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Intraductal carcinoma (IDC) is a rare type of noninvasive cancer that starts in the salivary glands, most often in the parotid gland. In this condition, the abnormal cells grow inside the small ducts of the gland and remain surrounded by a protective layer of myoepithelial cells. Because the tumor stays confined to the ducts, IDC …
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Serous cystadenoma is a non-cancerous tumor that develops in the pancreas. It is composed of small, fluid-filled spaces (cysts) lined by specialized cells that contain a sugar called glycogen. Most serous cystadenomas grow slowly and do not cause symptoms. They are often discovered by accident during imaging studies conducted for other purposes. What causes serous …
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Pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia, or PanIN, is a microscopic-sized growth that starts in the small ducts of the pancreas. It is not cancer, but it is considered a type of precancerous change. This means that over time, PanIN can turn into a type of pancreatic cancer called ductal adenocarcinoma. PanIN is only visible under the microscope …
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Interface dermatitis is a term pathologists use to describe a pattern of skin injury seen under the microscope. It refers to inflammation and damage that occurs at the junction where the outer layer of the skin (called the epidermis) meets the layer underneath (called the dermis). This area is known as the dermoepidermal junction. In …
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The phrase interface changes is used by pathologists to describe a specific pattern of inflammation and damage seen at the junction between the epithelium (the surface layer of cells that lines the skin, mouth, and other mucosal surfaces) and the underlying connective tissue (called the dermis in skin or lamina propria in mucosal tissue). This area …
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An atypical meningioma is a type of meningioma that is more aggressive than a grade 1 (benign) meningioma but less aggressive than a grade 3 meningioma. Meningiomas develop from meningothelial cells in the meninges, the thin layers of tissue that cover and protect the brain and spinal cord. Like all meningiomas, atypical meningiomas are dural-based …
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1p/19q codeletion is a specific type of genetic change found in a kind of brain tumor called oligodendroglioma. The term “1p/19q codeletion” means that a tumor cell has lost part of two chromosomes—the short arm of chromosome 1 (called 1p) and the long arm of chromosome 19 (called 19q). This genetic change helps pathologists confirm …
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MGMT stands for O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase, which is a type of DNA repair protein. Its main job is to protect cells by fixing a specific kind of damage to DNA caused by chemicals called alkylating agents. These agents are sometimes used in chemotherapy to destroy cancer cells, but MGMT can repair this damage and make the …
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