HMB-45 (Human Melanoma Black-45) is an antibody used by pathologists to detect a protein called gp100. This protein is normally found in melanocytes—cells that produce melanin, the pigment responsible for skin, hair, and eye color. Melanocytes are mostly located in the skin but can also appear in mucosal areas (like the mouth) and eyes. Because …
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A dentigerous cyst is a noncancerous, fluid-filled sac that forms around the crown of a tooth that has not yet come through the gum. Because it develops from tissue surrounding a forming tooth, it is sometimes also called a follicular cyst. Dentigerous cysts are the second most common type of odontogenic cyst (a cyst arising …
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Adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) of the cervix is a precancerous condition in which abnormal glandular cells grow in the surface lining of the cervix. These cells look like the cells seen in adenocarcinoma, a type of cervical cancer, but in AIS, the abnormal cells have not grown into the deeper layers of the cervical wall. …
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High grade dysplasia of the larynx, also known as severe keratinizing squamous dysplasia, is a precancerous condition involving the abnormal growth of squamous cells lining the larynx (voice box). Dysplasia means the cells look abnormal when viewed under a microscope and are not developing normally. If left untreated, high grade dysplasia can progress to a …
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Squamous cell carcinoma in situ of the larynx is a non-invasive type of cancer. If left untreated, this condition can evolve into a type of invasive laryngeal cancer called squamous cell carcinoma. This condition typically affects adults over the age of 40 years. The larynx The larynx is a structure located in the upper neck …
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Spindle cell squamous cell carcinoma — also called sarcomatoid squamous cell carcinoma — is a rare and aggressive subtype of squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx. It is called “spindle cell” because the cancer cells have an elongated, spindle-like shape quite different from the rounded cells of typical squamous cell carcinoma. This unusual shape makes …
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Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common type of cancer of the larynx, also known as the voice box. The larynx sits in the neck and plays an essential role in breathing, swallowing, and producing speech. It is divided into three regions, called subsites: Supraglottis — The upper part of the larynx above the vocal …
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What is a duodenal adenoma? A duodenal adenoma is a non-cancerous type of polyp that starts in a part of the small intestine called the duodenum. It is considered a precancerous condition because it can turn into a type of cancer called adenocarcinoma over time. Another name for this type of polyp is non-ampullary adenoma. …
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In pathology, vascular invasion (or angioinvasion) refers to the presence of cancer cells within the blood vessels, including veins and arteries. This finding is significant because it indicates a higher potential for the cancer to metastasize (spread) to other parts of the body, which can occur through any of these vessel types. Why is vascular …
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Angioinvasion describes cancer cells that have entered and are present inside blood vessels. Also called vascular invasion, it is significant because blood vessels provide a direct route for cancer cells to travel from the original tumor to distant organs such as the liver, lungs, bones, or brain — a process called metastasis. Finding angioinvasion in …
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