RET is a gene that provides instructions for making a protein involved in cell growth and development. The RET protein acts as a receptor on the surface of specific cells, where it receives signals that help control how cells grow, divide, and survive. RET is considered a biomarker. A biomarker is a measurable feature in …
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Respiratory type mucosa is the specialized tissue found on the inner surface of the airways that carry air in and out of the lungs. This tissue is designed to protect the airways and help keep them clean by trapping dust, germs, and other particles before they reach the lungs. The word mucosa refers to a …
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A complete blood count, often shortened to CBC, is a common blood test that measures the number, size, and health of different types of blood cells. It provides important information about how well your bone marrow is working and how your body carries oxygen, fights infection, and controls bleeding. A CBC is often one of …
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Polycythemia vera is a type of blood cancer called a myeloproliferative neoplasm. It is characterized by the bone marrow producing too many red blood cells. Many people also have increased white blood cells and or platelets. In most cases, polycythemia vera is caused by an acquired genetic change in a gene called JAK2 that sends …
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A myeloproliferative neoplasm is a group of blood cancers that start in the bone marrow, the soft tissue inside your bones where new blood cells are made. In these conditions, the bone marrow produces too many mature blood cells. The extra cells may be red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets, depending on the …
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A somatic mutation is a change in a gene that occurs during a person’s lifetime in a specific group of cells. These mutations are not present at birth and are not passed down from parents. Instead, they develop in cells as they grow and divide. Somatic mutations are common in many types of cancer because …
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Variant allele frequency (VAF) is a measurement used in the genetic testing of tumours. It describes how common a specific genetic change is within a tested tissue sample and is usually reported as a percentage. Tumours are often tested for genetic changes because these changes can explain why a cancer developed, how it may behave, …
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Essential thrombocythemia (ET) is a type of blood cancer called a myeloproliferative neoplasm. This group of conditions starts in the bone marrow, the soft, spongy tissue inside your bones where blood cells are made. In essential thrombocythemia, the bone marrow produces too many platelets. Platelets are small cell fragments in the blood that help form …
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Myxopapillary ependymoma is a type of glial tumor, meaning it develops from glial cells, which are support cells in the brain and spinal cord. It is considered a WHO grade 2 tumor. Although grade 2 tumors grow more slowly than high-grade tumors, myxopapillary ependymomas can still cause symptoms because they grow in tight spaces and …
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Anaplastic meningioma is an aggressive type of meningioma. Meningiomas are tumors that start from the meninges, the thin layers of tissue that cover and protect the brain and spinal cord. Anaplastic meningioma is the highest-grade meningioma and is classified as World Health Organization (WHO) grade 3. While most meningiomas are slow-growing and benign, anaplastic meningiomas …
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