Invasive apocrine carcinoma is a rare type of breast cancer in which the tumor cells closely resemble apocrine cells — the specialized cells that make up apocrine sweat glands in the skin. It accounts for approximately 1% of all breast cancers. Under the microscope, apocrine carcinoma cells are large and have abundant pink cytoplasm, with …
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Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma is a rare type of cancer that starts from cells lining blood vessels. These cells are called endothelial cells. This tumour sits somewhere between a slow-growing cancer and a more aggressive vascular cancer, meaning its behaviour can vary widely from person to person. Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma most commonly affects the liver, but it can …
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A vascular lesion is a growth predominantly composed of endothelial cells forming abnormal blood vessels. The term vascular lesion can be applied to a wide range of conditions, including benign (noncancerous) tumours, intermediate (locally aggressive) tumours, malignant (cancerous) tumours, congenital/development abnormalities, and reactive conditions. Vascular lesions can occur in any part of the body, although …
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An intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) is a type of non-invasive pancreatic tumor. It starts from the cells that line the ducts, which are small channels that carry digestive fluids from the pancreas into the intestines. These cells produce a thick, sticky substance called mucin. IPMNs are considered precancerous because, over time, they can develop …
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Basal cell adenocarcinoma is a rare type of cancer that starts in the salivary glands — the glands that make saliva. It is called “basal cell” because the tumor cells resemble the basal cells normally found at the base of salivary gland ducts. Most basal cell adenocarcinomas are low grade and grow slowly. They are …
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This article is designed to help you understand your pathology report for T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Each section explains an important aspect of the diagnosis and what it means for you. What is T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia? T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is a type of cancer caused by immature T cells, a kind of …
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In pathology, the term tumour bed describes an area of the body where a tumour was located before it was removed by surgery or treated with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or hormone therapy. It is important to examine the tumour bed because it can show how much of the tumour was killed by the treatment and …
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What is focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver? Focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) is a noncancerous type of growth in the liver. It is much more common in young women and it rarely occurs in men or children. What causes focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver? At the present time, we do not completely understand what …
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What is next-generation sequencing? Next-generation sequencing (NGS) is a way of finding out the order of the letters in DNA or RNA, the genetic material inside our cells. DNA and RNA are made of four different letters: A, C, G, and T for DNA, and A, C, G, and U for RNA. The order of …
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A hepatocyte is a type of cell found in the liver. They are very active and versatile cells that help to keep the body healthy and balanced. Hepatocytes can also regenerate when they are damaged or lost. The functions of a hepatocyte include: Making proteins needed for blood clotting, transporting substances, and fighting infections. Storing carbohydrates …
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