pathology report

Isolated Tumour Cells (ITCs): Definition

Isolated tumour cells (sometimes shortened to ITCs) are tiny clusters of cancer cells found in a lymph node. These cells have spread from a cancer located somewhere else in the body, a process called metastasis. To be classified as isolated tumour cells, the cluster must be very small—either fewer than 200 cancer cells or smaller …
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What is a sentinel lymph node?

A sentinel lymph node is the first lymph node or group of lymph nodes that cancer cells are most likely to reach if they begin to spread from the primary tumour. Lymph nodes are small, bean-shaped structures that are part of the lymphatic system, a network that helps the body fight infections and remove waste. …
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GATA-3: Definition

GATA3 (GATA binding protein 3) is a protein found in the nucleus of specific cells. It plays a crucial role in regulating how these cells grow and develop by controlling the activity of specific genes. GATA3 is especially important in the normal development of breast tissue, the urinary tract (urothelium), and certain immune cells.​ What …
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Abscess: Definition

An abscess is a localized collection of pus — a thick fluid made up of dead cells, debris, and immune cells — that builds up inside body tissue. It forms when the body’s immune system mounts a strong response to an injury, infection, or other source of irritation, and the responding cells accumulate faster than …
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What is parakeratosis?

Parakeratosis is a word pathologists use to describe a change in the surface layer of squamous epithelium, which is the tissue that lines many parts of the body including the skin, mouth, throat, esophagus, cervix, and anal canal. In healthy tissue, the squamous cells at the surface mature and lose their nuclei (the part of …
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Lynch Syndrome: Definition

Lynch syndrome is an inherited condition that significantly increases the risk of developing several types of cancer, most commonly colorectal (colon and rectal) cancer and endometrial (uterine) cancer. It is caused by an inherited change in one of the genes responsible for making mismatch repair (MMR) proteins — a group of proteins that normally find …
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What is hypertrophy?

Hypertrophy is a non-cancerous condition characterized by an increase in the size of individual cells, resulting in an overall enlargement of the affected tissue or organ. It differs from hyperplasia, which involves increasing the number of cells rather than their size. The term hypertrophic is also used to describe tissues that have undergone hypertrophy. What …
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Granular Cell Tumor: Understanding Your Pathology Report

A granular cell tumor is a noncancerous tumor made of large cells filled with tiny granules. The granules give the cells a pink, grainy appearance under the microscope, which is where the tumor gets its name. Granular cell tumors develop from Schwann cells, the cells that wrap around and protect nerves. They grow slowly and …
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Chronic Rhinosinusitis: Understanding Your Pathology Report

Chronic rhinosinusitis is a common medical condition caused by long-lasting inflammation of the nasal cavity and the paranasal sinuses, the air-filled spaces in the bones around the nose. It is defined by symptoms that last at least 12 weeks, and it typically affects adults. The term “rhinosinusitis” describes inflammation involving both the nasal cavity and …
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Sinonasal Inflammatory Polyp: Understanding Your Pathology Report

A sinonasal inflammatory polyp is a common, noncancerous (benign) growth that develops in the nasal cavity or paranasal sinuses, the air-filled spaces in the bones around the nose. It is not a cancer, and it is not a precancerous condition. A polyp is simply a piece of tissue that protrudes from a surface, and in …
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