What is nodular thyroid hyperplasia? Nodular thyroid hyperplasia is a non-cancerous type of growth involving the thyroid gland. The abnormal growth can affect one-half of the gland (one lobe) or the entire gland (both lobes and the isthmus). It is the most common cause of nodules in the thyroid gland. Other names for this condition …
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Mesothelioma is a cancer that starts in mesothelial cells — the specialized cells that form a thin lining around internal organs. This lining, called the mesothelium, is found around the lungs (the pleura), around the abdominal organs (the peritoneum), and around the heart (the pericardium). The large majority of mesotheliomas — roughly 75–80% — arise …
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Melanoma in situ is an early, non-invasive form of skin cancer that arises from melanocytes, the cells that produce melanin. In healthy skin, melanocytes sit in a neat row at the bottom of the epidermis — the thin outer layer of the skin. In melanoma in situ, these cells have become cancerous and have grown in abnormal …
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SOX10 is a protein that helps control how certain types of cells grow, develop, and function in the body. It plays a particularly important role in the development of cells in the nervous system and melanocytes, which are pigment-producing cells found in the skin. Pathologists use SOX10 as a marker to identify tumours that arise …
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p40 is a specialized protein that helps pathologists identify specific types of cells, especially squamous cells, which are found on surfaces like the skin, the lining of the mouth and throat, and parts of the lungs and urinary tract. p40 is a shortened version (or “isoform”) of another protein called p63, but it is more …
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Calcification is the buildup of calcium salts within body tissue where calcium is not normally found in significant amounts. While calcium is essential in bones and teeth — where it provides strength and structure — its accumulation in soft tissues such as the breast, arteries, lymph nodes, or organs is abnormal and can signal a …
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Atrophy (also described as atrophic) means the shrinking or loss of tissue in an organ or body part. It describes how tissue appears under the microscope rather than providing a specific diagnosis. Atrophy itself is a benign (noncancerous) change. What it means for you depends on which tissue is affected and what is causing it. …
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“Atrophic” describes tissue or an organ that has become smaller or thinner because its cells have shrunk or decreased in number. It is the adjective form of atrophy and means the same thing: when a pathologist calls a tissue atrophic, they are saying the tissue shows atrophy. This is a benign (noncancerous) change that describes …
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An arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is an abnormal tangle of blood vessels made up of arteries and veins. In a normal circulatory system, blood flows from the heart through arteries, into tiny capillaries that supply oxygen and nutrients to tissues, and then back to the heart through veins. In an AVM, the blood flows directly from …
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Immunoreactivity is a term pathologists use to describe how cells or tissues respond to a special laboratory test called immunohistochemistry (IHC). In this test, antibodies are applied to a tissue sample to look for specific proteins. If the protein being tested is present, the antibody will attach to it, and the cells will change color …
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