An atypical parathyroid tumor (APT) is an unusual growth of the parathyroid gland. It shows some microscopic features that raise concern for cancer, but does not meet all the criteria needed to diagnose parathyroid carcinoma. For this reason, pathologists describe an atypical parathyroid tumor as a neoplasm of uncertain malignant potential — a growth that …
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Stratified mucin producing intraepithelial lesion, usually abbreviated as SMILE, is a rare precancerous condition of the cervix caused by infection with human papillomavirus (HPV). It is described as having features of both squamous cells (flat cells that line the outer surface of the cervix) and glandular cells (mucus-producing cells that line the inside of the …
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Clear cell carcinoma is a rare type of cervical cancer that develops from glandular cells in the cervix. It is called “clear cell” because the cancer cells often have pale or transparent-looking cytoplasm (the body of the cell that surrounds the nucleus) when viewed under the microscope. Clear cell carcinoma accounts for approximately 3 to …
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The liver panel — sometimes called liver function tests, liver enzymes, or LFTs — is a group of blood tests used to assess how well your liver is working and whether the liver is injured or inflamed. The tests in a liver panel overlap substantially with those in a comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), but a dedicated liver …
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A cemento-ossifying fibroma (COF) is a noncancerous tumor that develops within the bones of the jaw, most often the mandible (lower jaw), and most often near the molar and premolar teeth. It is made up of fibrous tissue mixed with hard tissue that resembles either bone or cementum (the thin layer of mineralized tissue that …
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An odontoma is a noncancerous growth that develops within the bones of the jaw and is made up of the same tissues that form a normal tooth — enamel, dentin, cementum, and sometimes pulp. It is the most common type of odontogenic tumor (a tumor arising from tooth-related tissues), making up roughly one in five …
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Medulloblastoma is a type of cancer that starts in the cerebellum, the part of the brain at the back of the head that controls balance, coordination, and fine movement. It is an embryonal tumor, which means it develops from immature cells that normally give rise to the nervous system during early development. Medulloblastoma is one …
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Extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is a type of cancer that starts in the bile ducts outside the liver — the small tubes that carry bile from the liver to the intestine, where bile helps digest fats. It includes tumors of the common bile duct and of the hepatic ducts near where they exit the liver. Tumors that …
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Most patients, when they receive a pathology report, head straight to the diagnosis section to find out what was found. But many reports contain another section — sometimes the longest section — called the microscopic description. Filled with technical language about cell shapes, tissue patterns, and test results, this section can feel impenetrable at first …
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Receiving a pathology report is rarely the end of the process. For most patients, the report is the starting point — the document that confirms a diagnosis and sets everything else in motion. Understanding what happens next, who is involved, and how the information in your report is used to guide your care can help …
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