Pilocytic astrocytoma is a type of brain tumor that develops from astrocytes, star-shaped support cells found throughout the brain and spinal cord. It is considered a low-grade tumor, meaning the cells grow slowly and typically do not invade the surrounding brain tissue the way more aggressive tumors do. Pilocytic astrocytomas are also described as well-circumscribed, …
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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 (also known as syndecan-1) is a protein found on the surface of plasma cells — a type of white blood cell that produces antibodies, which are proteins the immune system uses to fight infections. CD138 is also found on the surface of epithelial cells, which are the cells that line the inner surfaces of …
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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 subtype of papillary thyroid carcinoma is a type of thyroid cancer. It is one of several subtypes of papillary thyroid carcinoma, the most common thyroid cancer overall. Under the microscope, this tumor combines two features: the cells are arranged in small round structures called follicles (the same growth pattern seen in normal thyroid tissue …
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Oncocytic carcinoma of the thyroid gland is a rare type of thyroid cancer. It arises from follicular cells, the cells in the thyroid gland that normally produce thyroid hormone. The tumor is composed mostly of oncocytic cells, a type of cell that contains numerous energy-producing structures called mitochondria and has a distinctive bright pink appearance under the microscope. …
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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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Background: Nasopharyngeal angiofibroma is a locally aggressive but benign tumour originating in the nasal cavity or nasopharynx. It exclusively affects males. Alternative names for this tumour include juvenile angiofibroma and sinonasal angiofibroma. What are the symptoms of nasopharyngeal angiofibroma? The symptoms of nasopharyngeal angiofibroma include recurring nosebleeds and nasal congestion, while more extensive tumours may …
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Amyloid is an abnormal protein that folds into the wrong shape and accumulates in body tissues as dense, insoluble deposits. In healthy cells, proteins fold correctly and perform their normal functions. In some diseases, certain proteins misfold and clump together into a distinctive structure — one that the body cannot easily break down or clear …
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A neck dissection is a surgical procedure involving the removal of lymph nodes and surrounding tissue from the neck. It is primarily performed to treat or prevent the spread of cancer, particularly head and neck cancers, by removing potentially affected lymphatic tissue. What is the purpose of a neck dissection? The primary purpose of a …
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