Tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) are special immune cells that have moved from the bloodstream directly into a tumour. They are part of your body’s natural immune response, which aims to identify and attack cancer cells. Some cancer treatments, known as immune checkpoint inhibitors (such as PD-L1 inhibitors), work by helping these immune cells function better, preventing cancer …
Read More »
Breslow thickness (also called Breslow depth) is a measurement used by pathologists to describe how far cancer cells in melanoma have grown into the skin. Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that starts in cells called melanocytes, which are normally found in the top layer of the skin (the epidermis). This measurement tells doctors …
Read More »
Melanocytes are a type of cell found in the skin and other body parts. These cells produce melanin, the pigment that gives colour to your skin, hair, and eyes. Melanocytes play an important role in protecting your skin from the harmful effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation. What is their function? The primary function of melanocytes …
Read More »
What is an inflammatory polyp in the stomach? An inflammatory polyp is a non-cancerous growth that develops from the tissue that lines the inside of the stomach. Another name for this growth is a hyperplastic polyp. What causes an inflammatory polyp? Most inflammatory polyps in the stomach are associated with a condition called chronic gastritis …
Read More »
An immature teratoma is a rare type of ovarian tumour that contains both mature tissues, such as skin or fat, and immature tissues, typically composed of developing nerve cells. The word immature is used because some of the tissues inside the tumour look similar to embryonic or early developmental tissue under the microscope. Unlike mature …
Read More »
A benign Brenner tumor is a noncancerous growth that starts in the ovary. It is composed of nests of cells resembling the lining of the urinary tract, known as urothelial epithelium, surrounded by dense supportive tissue called stroma. Because this tumor is benign, it does not spread to other parts of the body and does …
Read More »
Flat epithelial atypia (FEA) is a non-cancerous change that occurs in the small glands of the breast called terminal duct lobular units (TDLUs). In FEA, the normal cells lining the glands are replaced by one or more layers of mildly abnormal cells. These abnormal cells are usually cuboidal or column-shaped and look similar to the …
Read More »
Phyllodes tumour is a rare type of breast tumour. Most phyllodes tumours will behave like non-cancerous tumours. However, a small number (approximately 10%) will behave like cancer. This behaviour includes the ability to spread through the normal tissue in the breast and to other parts of the body. The entire tumour must be removed surgically …
Read More »
What is a Spitz nevus? A Spitz nevus is a non-cancerous skin tumour and a type of mole. Like other types of moles, these tumours are made up of specialized cells called melanocytes that are normally found in a part of the skin called the epidermis. The nevus is named after Dr. Sophie Spitz, a …
Read More »
What is a von Meyenburg complex? A von Meyenburg complex is a type of non-cancerous liver tumour called a hamartoma. For this reason, another name for a von Meyenburg complex is a bile duct hamartoma. Pathologists often describe a von Meyenburg complex as a malformation to differentiate it from other kinds of tumours. von Meyenburg …
Read More »
