A trephine biopsy removes a small, solid core of bone and bone marrow. A pathologist then examines it under the microscope. Doctors also call it a bone marrow core biopsy. Doctors usually do it along with a bone marrow aspirate. This article explains what a trephine biopsy is, why doctors order it, how the laboratory …
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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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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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Vacuolar degeneration is a term pathologists use to describe a change in cells where small, clear, bubble-like spaces—called vacuoles—develop inside the cell’s cytoplasm. The cytoplasm is the fluid-filled area of a cell that surrounds the nucleus and contains structures that help the cell function. These vacuoles appear empty under the microscope because they do not …
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Spindle cell proliferation is a term pathologists use to describe the growth or increase in the number of spindle-shaped cells seen under the microscope. Spindle-shaped cells are long and thin, resembling the shape of a spindle used in weaving, with tapered ends and elongated nuclei. This term is not a final diagnosis but rather a …
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Acantholysis is a term pathologists use to describe the loss of normal connections between skin cells. In healthy skin, the cells of the outer layer — the epidermis — are held tightly together by specialized anchor structures called desmosomes, which act like tiny molecular rivets between cells. When desmosomes are damaged or destroyed, cells lose …
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The epidermis is the thin, outermost layer of your skin. It acts as a protective shield between your body and the outside world. Although it is only about as thick as a sheet of paper in most places, the epidermis plays a crucial role in preventing harmful germs, chemicals, and physical forces from damaging your …
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Pemphigoid is the most common autoimmune blistering disease of the skin and mucous membranes. In this condition, the body’s immune system mistakenly produces antibodies that attack healthy tissue. These antibodies target specific proteins that normally help anchor the top layer of skin (the epidermis) to the deeper layer (the dermis). When these proteins are damaged, …
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