Background: Fibrous histiocytoma is a common benign (non-cancerous) skin tumour. It is made up of a combination of fibroblastic cells, macrophages, and collagen, a type of connective tissue. The tumour develops in a layer of skin called the dermis. Another name for a fibrous histiocytoma is dermatofibroma. What are the symptoms of a fibrous …
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High grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN) is a condition in which the cells that line the ducts and glands of the prostate gland show abnormal changes. These changes are not cancerous, but they are considered precancerous, meaning they may develop into prostate cancer over time. HGPIN is often detected in prostate biopsies, which are usually …
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In pathology, extraparenchymal extension (EPE) refers to the invasion (spread) of a tumor beyond the main tissue mass (the parenchyma) of an organ into surrounding tissues. This term is often used in the context of malignant (cancerous) tumours to describe tumor growth extending beyond the organ’s boundary and into adjacent structures or tissues. Why is …
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What does parenchyma mean? In pathology, the term parenchyma refers to the tissue normally found within an organ. Specifically, it is made up of cells that carry out the specific function of the organ. As a result, the types of cells found in the parenchyma will depend on the organ being examined. For example, the …
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What is a mitotically active leiomyoma of the uterus? A mitotically active leiomyoma is a non-cancerous tumour that starts in the wall of the uterus. The tumour is made up of specialized smooth muscle cells that are normally found in a part of the uterus called the myometrium. What does “mitotically active” mean? Mitotically active …
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Fat necrosis is a condition that happens when fat tissue in the body is damaged and the fat cells (adipose cells) die. The body responds by breaking down the dead cells and often replacing them with scar tissue. This process can result in firm, rounded, or irregular lumps in the affected area. These lumps may …
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Fibrinoid necrosis is a pattern of tissue damage (a type of necrosis) in which a bright pink, fibrin-like material builds up inside the wall of a blood vessel. It develops when the wall of a blood vessel is badly injured, allowing proteins from the blood to leak into and replace the normal wall. The name …
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What is MDM2? MDM2 is a gene that promotes cell division (the creation of new cells). Normal cells and those in non-cancerous tumours have two copies of the MDM2 gene. In contrast, cancerous tumours such as atypical lipomatous tumour/well differentiated liposarcoma have more than two copies of the MDM2 gene. How do pathologists test for …
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Tumour necrosis is a term pathologists use to describe areas of dead cells within a tumour. Necrosis happens when tumour cells die and become non-functional. These areas of dead cells can occur in any cancer and are often easy to see under a microscope when examining tumour samples. What causes tumour necrosis? Several factors can …
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High-grade papillary urothelial carcinoma is a type of cancer that starts from specialized cells lining the urinary tract. The urinary tract includes the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra, with the bladder being the most common site for these tumours. This type of cancer is described as high grade because the tumour cells appear very abnormal …
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