A well differentiated neuroendocrine tumor (NET) is the most common type of appendiceal cancer. It starts from specialized neuroendocrine cells in the lining of the appendix. These cells normally help regulate digestion by releasing hormones in response to signals from the nervous system. Most well differentiated NETs are small, slow growing, and curable with surgery. …
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What is mucinous cystadenofibroma? A mucinous cystadenofibroma is a non-cancerous type of ovarian tumour. While these tumours are non-cancerous, they can grow to be very large in size and can cause significant symptoms for many patients. How do pathologists make this diagnosis? For most women, the diagnosis of mucinous cystadenofibroma is only made when the …
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Background: Fibromatosis is a benign (non-cancerous) tumour made up of a specialized type of connective tissue called fibrous tissue. Pathologists divide fibromatosis into two categories depending on where the tumour develops. Tumours that develop just under the skin are called superficial fibromatosis. Tumours that develop deeper within the body are called deep fibromatosis. Types of …
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Hepatocytes are the main type of cell that make up the liver. They are responsible for many important functions, including storing energy, making proteins, and breaking down toxins. A ballooning hepatocyte is a damaged liver cell that has swollen to several times its normal size. Pathologists use the word “ballooning” because the cell looks puffed …
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Fracture is the medical term used to describe a break in a bone. When a bone breaks, the muscles, and blood vessels around the broken bone are usually damaged as well. What causes a fracture? Most fractures are caused by trauma to the body as a result of high-impact force or stress. A pathologic fracture …
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What is a ganglion cyst? A ganglion cyst is a non-cancerous change, or cyst, within a joint or tendon that appears as soft, round lumps. These cysts are made up of small spaces filled with mucous fluid and are surrounded by thickened fibrous tissue. They are usually under three centimeters in size. Most ganglion cysts …
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A sessile serrated lesion is a type of polyp — a small precancerous growth that develops on the inner lining of the colon or rectum. It is not cancer, but it can develop into cancer over time if left in place. Most sessile serrated lesions are detected and removed during a routine colonoscopy, and removal …
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Keratinizing squamous dysplasia is a precancerous condition affecting the lining of the oral cavity. It develops in squamous cells — the flat cells that normally form the surface layer of the mouth’s lining — when they start to grow and mature abnormally. One of its defining features is the excess production of keratin, a tough …
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A plasmacytoma is a tumor made up of plasma cells, a type of immune cell that lives in the bone marrow and makes antibodies (immunoglobulins) to help fight infections. In a plasmacytoma, these plasma cells grow abnormally and form a single tumor or mass. When the tumor forms inside a bone, it is called a …
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What is the Pheochromocytoma of the Adrenal Gland Scaled Score (PASS)? Pheochromocytoma of the Adrenal Gland Scaled Score (PASS) is a tool that doctors use to predict the behaviour of a pheochromocytoma. A score of 3 or less means that the tumour is likely to behave in a non-cancerous manner and is cured by surgery …
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