SMARCA4-deficient undifferentiated tumour of the lung is a rare and aggressive type of lung cancer. The term “undifferentiated” means that the cancer cells do not look like normal lung cells. The tumour is called “SMARCA4-deficient” because it lacks a functional SMARCA4 gene, which normally helps regulate how cells grow and develop. What are the symptoms …
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Ghost cells are a specific type of dead cell seen under the microscope in certain medical conditions. They are called “ghost” cells because they appear as pale, empty outlines of the original cell, almost as if the cell is a shadow or “ghost” of itself. These cells no longer function and have lost their internal …
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A seromucinous hamartoma is a rare, noncancerous (benign) growth found in the nasal cavity or sinuses. The term hamartoma refers to a mass composed of an abnormal mixture of cells and tissues that normally belong in the area but have grown in a disorganized manner. “Seromucinous” refers to the combination of serous (watery) and mucinous …
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Products of conception is the clinical term for the tissue that forms during a pregnancy. It includes the placenta, the membranes, and, depending on how far the pregnancy had developed, the embryo or fetus. Pathology reports and requisition forms use the phrase, and it can read as cold and technical. It is simply the standard …
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The implantation site refers to the location in the uterus where a fertilized egg attaches and embeds into the uterine lining, starting the process of pregnancy. This is where the placenta will develop to support the growing fetus. The implantation site may be described in a pathology report when a pathologist examines products of conception (tissues from …
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ALK (anaplastic lymphoma kinase) is a gene that normally plays a role in the development of nerve cells. In healthy adult tissue, the ALK gene is essentially switched off, producing little to no protein. In some cancers, however, a structural change in the DNA causes the ALK gene to fuse with another gene — a …
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EGFR stands for epidermal growth factor receptor. It is a gene that provides the instructions for making a protein found on the surface of many normal cells. This protein acts as a receptor, meaning it receives signals from outside the cell that tell the cell when to grow and divide. EGFR is an important biomarker. …
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A branchial cleft cyst is a fluid-filled sac that forms on the side of the neck, usually just in front of the ear or under the jaw. It develops from tissues in the neck that didn’t fully form during embryonic development. These cysts are typically benign (non-cancerous) and can appear at any age, though they …
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Exogenous hormone effect refers to changes in the body’s tissues caused by hormones that come from an external source, such as medications. These changes can be seen when a pathologist examines tissue under a microscope and are different from those caused by hormones produced naturally by the body. Estrogen, progesterone, and androgens are the types …
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Stromal breakdown is the process in which the stroma, the supportive connective tissue within an organ, begins to weaken, separate, or disintegrate. The stroma provides structure and helps maintain the shape and function of the surrounding tissue. When it breaks down, the tissue may lose its normal architecture, and additional changes—such as inflammation, bleeding, or …
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