A mutation is a change in a gene, which is a piece of DNA that provides instructions for how a cell should function. In a molecular pathology report, the word “mutation” means that there has been a genetic change in the tumour’s DNA. Some mutations are harmless, while others can contribute to cancer development or …
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In a molecular pathology report, the word fusion refers to a specific genetic change in which two different genes that are normally separate join together. This joining creates a new, hybrid gene that produces an abnormal protein. These fusion events happen inside the cancer cells and are not something a person is born with. Because …
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Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a type of blood cancer that starts in the bone marrow — the soft tissue inside bones that makes blood cells. In acute myeloid leukemia, immature blood cells called blasts grow too quickly and do not develop into normal, working blood cells. As blasts accumulate, they crowd out healthy cells, …
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A hyperplastic tonsil is a benign (non-cancerous) condition that results from an increased number of cells normally found in the tonsil. The tonsils are small masses of lymphoid tissue located at the back of your throat and play a role in your immune system by helping to trap and fight off infections. When the number …
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CD117 (also known as c-kit or KIT) is a protein found on the surface of certain normal and abnormal cells. It acts like an antenna — receiving signals from the surrounding environment that tell the cell to grow, divide, and survive. In pathology, CD117 is used as an immunohistochemical (IHC) marker, meaning it is detected …
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ERG is a protein made by certain types of cells throughout the body. It belongs to a group of proteins called transcription factors, which control how cells turn specific genes on or off. By regulating genes, ERG plays a key role in developing and maintaining healthy blood vessels and can influence the growth of certain …
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Nonkeratinizing squamous cell carcinoma is the most common type of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, a cancer arising in the nasopharynx, the area at the back of the nasal cavity above the soft palate. The term “nonkeratinizing” describes the appearance of the cancer cells under the microscope: they produce little or no keratin (a tough protein that gives other …
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Nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL) is a rare, slow-growing blood cancer that starts in B cells — the white blood cells that help the body fight infections. It belongs to the Hodgkin lymphoma family but differs fundamentally from the more common type, classic Hodgkin lymphoma, in its cell biology, behavior, and treatment. Compared with classic …
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Reed-Sternberg cells are a specific type of abnormal cell found in certain cancers. These cells are large, with a distinctive appearance under the microscope, and they play an important role in the diagnosis of a cancer called Hodgkin lymphoma. Reed-Sternberg cells are believed to be derived from a white blood cell type known as a …
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Classic Hodgkin lymphoma is a type of cancer that starts in the lymph nodes — small bean-shaped glands distributed throughout the body that are part of the immune system. It is defined by the presence of distinctive abnormal cells called Reed-Sternberg cells, which are much larger than normal immune cells and have a characteristic appearance …
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