KRAS is a gene found in nearly all cells in the body. Genes are instructions made of DNA that tell cells how to grow, divide, and function. The KRAS gene provides instructions for making a protein that helps control how cells respond to growth signals. KRAS is also considered a biomarker. A biomarker is a …
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What is a pleomorphic lipoma? A pleomorphic lipoma is a non-cancerous tumour made up of fat and spindle cells. This tumour commonly starts around the upper back and neck but can be found almost anywhere in the body. Most grow just under our skin where they feel like a soft lump. Another name for this …
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Small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) is a slow-growing (indolent) blood cancer that starts in B cells — the white blood cells that help the body fight infections. It is defined by the accumulation of abnormal small B cells in the lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow, and other tissues. SLL is biologically identical to chronic lymphocytic leukemia …
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Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common type of leukemia in adults. It is a slow-growing (indolent) blood cancer that starts in B cells — the white blood cells that help the body fight infections by producing antibodies. In CLL, a single abnormal B cell multiplies uncontrollably, producing a large population of abnormal identical …
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Anemia is a condition in which the blood has too little hemoglobin, the protein inside red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body. Anemia can happen when there are fewer red blood cells than normal or when each red blood cell contains less hemoglobin than it should. Because oxygen is essential for producing energy, …
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What is usual interstitial pneumonia? Interstitial pneumonia is a group of diseases where inflammation and fibrosis damage small air-filled spaces inside the lungs called alveoli. Over time, the damage leads to scarring which prevents the lungs from working properly. Although the word pneumonia is used, this does not mean there is an infection in the …
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In pathology, well differentiated is a term used to describe how tumor cells look when examined under a microscope. Tumor cells described as well differentiated closely resemble the normal, healthy cells of the tissue from which the tumor started. These cells typically appear organized, uniform in size and shape, and maintain many features of their …
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What is a corpus luteum cyst? A corpus luteum cyst is a non-cancerous fluid-filled growth in the ovary. These types of cysts are very common in women of reproductive age. What causes a corpus luteum cyst? The corpus luteum is a normal structure that remains in the ovary after ovulation. It is made up of …
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What is a cortical inclusion cyst? A cortical inclusion cyst is a non-cancerous change that is commonly seen when the ovary of a reproductive-age woman is examined under a microscope. It is a small hole that forms from a break in the tissue on the surface of the ovary. Pathologists use the word cyst to …
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What are cystic follicles and follicle cysts in the ovary? Cystic follicles and follicle cysts are related non-cancerous changes commonly seen when the ovary of a reproductive-age woman is examined under the microscope. Both are created by the growth of a normal structure called a follicle that did not release its ovum (egg) during the …
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