POLE is a gene that provides instructions for making a protein called DNA polymerase epsilon. This protein is very important because it helps copy DNA when cells divide. It also has a special function called proofreading, which works like a spell-checker to make sure mistakes in DNA are fixed. When POLE is working normally, it …
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FOLR1 is a gene that provides the instructions for making a protein called folate receptor alpha. This protein is found on the surface of specific cells and helps transport folate, a type of vitamin B (also known as vitamin B9), into the cell. Folate is essential because it enables cells to make DNA and RNA, …
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Platelets are tiny cell fragments in the blood that help stop bleeding. They are also called thrombocytes. Unlike red and white blood cells, platelets are not complete cells. Instead, they are small pieces of larger bone marrow cells called megakaryocytes. Under the microscope, platelets look much smaller than red or white blood cells and often …
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A bone marrow aspiration is a medical procedure in which a small amount of liquid bone marrow is removed using a thin needle and suction. The sample is then spread onto glass slides so that the individual cells can be examined under a microscope by a pathologist. Because the aspiration provides a detailed look at …
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A trephine biopsy is a medical procedure used to take a small, solid piece of bone marrow tissue so that it can be examined under a microscope. The bone marrow is the soft, spongy tissue inside bones where most blood cells are made. Pathologists use the sample from a trephine biopsy to see how the …
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A bone marrow biopsy is a medical procedure in which a small sample of bone marrow is taken so that it can be examined under a microscope by a pathologist. The bone marrow is the soft tissue found inside bones, and it is where most of your blood cells are made. By looking at a …
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A pathology report is a medical document created by a pathologist, who is a doctor specializing in diagnosing diseases through the examination of tissues, cells, and body fluids. This report details the findings from a specimen taken from your body and analyzed under a microscope or tested in a laboratory. The information in your pathology report …
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ctDNA (circulating tumor DNA) are small fragments of genetic material (DNA) released into the bloodstream by cancer cells. All cells in the body shed bits of DNA when they die, but ctDNA comes specifically from tumor cells. Because these DNA fragments carry the same genetic changes as the tumor, they can be analyzed to learn …
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A liquid biopsy is a medical test that detects signs of disease, such as cancer, in a sample of body fluid—most often blood. Unlike a traditional biopsy, which involves removing a small tissue sample with a needle or during surgery, a liquid biopsy is minimally invasive and can be done with a simple blood draw. …
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Epidermotropism is a term pathologists use to describe cells that are moving toward or located within the epidermis, which is the thin outer layer of the skin. In a pathology report, epidermotropism usually refers to abnormal cells—such as cancer cells or immune cells—that are found in the epidermis when they are not normally present there. …
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