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 …
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A Spitz nevus is a noncancerous (benign) skin growth and a type of mole. Like other moles, it is made up of cells called melanocytes, the cells in the skin that make melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color. The growth is named after Dr. Sophie Spitz, the pathologist who first described it. Spitz …
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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 …
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What is a bile duct hamartoma? A bile duct hamartoma, also known as a von Meyenburg complex, is a non-cancerous liver tumour made up of disorganized bile ducts. It is a common type of liver tumour seen in approximately 3-6% of the population. Some may appear before birth during the time in fetal development when …
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What is a Schneiderian papilloma? A Schneiderian papilloma is a non-cancerous tumour that starts from the tissue that lines the inside of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinus. Pathologists divide Schneiderian papillomas into three types: inverted, exophytic, and oncocytic. Another name for Schneiderian papilloma is sinonasal papilloma. Is Schneiderian papilloma a type of cancer? No. …
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What is a sinonasal papilloma? A sinonasal papilloma is a non-cancerous tumour that starts from the tissue that lines the inside of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinus. Pathologists divide sinonasal papillomas into three types: inverted, exophytic, and oncocytic. Another name for sinonasal papilloma is Schneidernian papilloma. Is sinonasal papilloma a type of cancer? No. …
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Acanthosis is a word pathologists use to describe a thickening of the surface layer of tissue caused by an increased number of squamous cells. Squamous cells are flat, protective cells that form the outer lining of many parts of the body, including the skin, mouth, throat, esophagus, cervix, and anal canal. When these cells multiply …
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An osteoblastoma is a rare non-cancerous bone type of bone tumour. These tumours usually range in size from about 2 to 5 cm but they can be much larger, up to 20 cm. They are most frequently found in the bones of the legs, feet, and spine, but other locations are possible. A tumour that …
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An osteoid osteoma is a common type of non-cancerous bone tumour. These tumours are usually small (less than 2 cm) and are most frequently found in the bones of the legs, arms, spine, hands, and feet. They generally occur in children and young adults but can occasionally be found in older adults. The most common …
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Pheochromocytoma is a neuroendocrine tumor that starts in the adrenal medulla, the inner part of the adrenal gland. There are two adrenal glands in the body, one on top of each kidney. The adrenal medulla normally produces hormones called catecholamines, including adrenaline (epinephrine) and noradrenaline (norepinephrine), which help control blood pressure, heart rate, and the …
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