The small intestine has tiny, finger-like projections called villi that help absorb nutrients from food. Villous blunting refers to the shortening or flattening of these villi. When the villi are blunted, they lose their elongated shape and become shorter or flatter, reducing their ability to absorb nutrients effectively. What causes villous blunting? Villous blunting can …
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The small intestine has tiny, finger-like projections called villi that help absorb nutrients from food. Villous atrophy refers to the flattening or shrinking of these villi. When the villi are damaged and shrink, they can no longer effectively absorb nutrients, leading to various health problems. What causes villous atrophy? Villous atrophy can be caused by …
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Anaplasia is a term for tumour cells that have lost their normal structure and function. Anaplastic tumour cells look very different from the normal cells from which they originated and tend to behave more aggressively. Key features of anaplasia include: Loss of differentiation: Normal cells are specialized and have specific functions. In anaplasia, cells lose …
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Pilocytic astrocytoma is a type of brain tumor that develops from astrocytes, which are star-shaped support cells in the brain and spinal cord. This tumor is considered low grade, meaning it grows slowly and does not usually spread into surrounding brain tissue the way high-grade tumors do. Pilocytic astrocytoma most often affects children, teenagers, and …
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GFAP stands for glial fibrillary acidic protein. It is a protein found in specific cells of the nervous system and in the salivary glands. GFAP is important because it helps maintain the structure and supports the function of these cells. What types of normal cells and tissues express GFAP? Examples of cell types that normally …
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CD138 is a protein found on the surface of certain cells in the body. It plays a role in cell communication and adhesion, which means it helps cells stick together and send signals to each other. This protein is also known as syndecan-1. What types of cells and tissues normally express CD138? CD138 is normally …
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HPV associated dysplasia of the larynx is a precancerous condition in which the squamous cells that cover the inside surface of the larynx begin to show abnormal growth due to infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV). If not treated effectively, this condition can progress to a type of laryngeal cancer called squamous cell carcinoma. This …
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Follicular variant papillary thyroid carcinoma is a type of thyroid cancer and a subtype of papillary thyroid carcinoma, the most common thyroid cancer. It develops from follicular cells, which are the thyroid cells responsible for producing thyroid hormone. The tumour is called a “follicular variant” because, under the microscope, the cancer cells exhibit a follicular …
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Oncocytic carcinoma (previously called Hurthle cell carcinoma) is a rare type of thyroid cancer that arises from follicular cells, which produce thyroid hormone. This tumour is made up mostly of oncocytic cells, a specialized type of thyroid cell that appears larger and more pink under the microscope because it contains many mitochondria (the parts of …
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In pathology, dedifferentiation describes a process where mature, specialized cells change back (revert) to a less specialized, more primitive form. This is commonly seen in cancer, where tumour cells that were initially more mature and less aggressive become less mature and more aggressive. When cells become dedifferentiated, they tend to grow more rapidly and lose …
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