DIF stands for direct immunofluorescence. It is a test that pathologists perform to look for specific proteins in a tissue sample. Unlike most tissue samples, which are examined using normal light, DIF tissue samples are examined using fluorescent light. This makes it easier for pathologists to see exactly where in the tissue sample the proteins …
Read More »
Direct immunofluorescence (DIF) is a specialized laboratory test pathologists use to identify specific proteins within a tissue sample. This test involves using antibodies attached to a fluorescent dye that glows brightly under a special microscope. By lighting up these proteins, DIF helps pathologists see their location and pattern within the tissue. Why is direct immunofluorescence …
Read More »
Background: Desmoid tumour or deep fibromatosis is a benign (non-cancerous) tumour that starts in connective tissue. It is considered locally aggressive because it can grow into surrounding tissues and organs. The tumour can also grow back if not completely removed. However, it will not metastasize (spread) to other body parts. Symptoms of desmoid tumour The …
Read More »
A plasmacytoma is a tumor made up of plasma cells, a type of immune cell that lives in the bone marrow and makes antibodies (immunoglobulins) to help fight infections. In a plasmacytoma, these plasma cells grow abnormally and form a single tumor or mass. When the tumor forms inside a bone, it is called a …
Read More »
What is the Pheochromocytoma of the Adrenal Gland Scaled Score (PASS)? Pheochromocytoma of the Adrenal Gland Scaled Score (PASS) is a tool that doctors use to predict the behaviour of a pheochromocytoma. A score of 3 or less means that the tumour is likely to behave in a non-cancerous manner and is cured by surgery …
Read More »
What is the PASS score? The PASS (Pheochromocytoma of the Adrenal gland Scaled Score) is a tool that doctors use to predict the behaviour of a tumour called pheochromocytoma. A score of 3 or less means that the tumour is likely to behave in a non-cancerous manner and is cured by surgery alone. In contrast, …
Read More »
Salivary duct carcinoma is one of the most aggressive types of cancer that starts in the salivary glands — the glands that make saliva. Unlike most salivary gland cancers, it grows quickly, often spreads to lymph nodes early, and can spread to distant sites such as the lungs, bones, and liver. Under the microscope, it …
Read More »
A xanthoma is a type of growth that forms under the skin or in other tissues of the body. It is made up of fat-filled cells called foamy histiocytes, which are a type of immune cell that has absorbed fat. Xanthomas can appear anywhere on the body but are most commonly found on the skin. …
Read More »
Ring sideroblasts are immature red blood cells (cells that are still developing in the bone marrow) that contain too much iron. Instead of being stored in the normal location, the iron builds up inside the developing red blood cell and forms a ring-shaped pattern around the nucleus, which is the control center of the cell. …
Read More »
A dermal nevus is a very common, noncancerous (benign) skin growth made up of cells called melanocytes. Melanocytes are the cells in the skin that make melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color. The word “dermal” describes where these cells sit: in a dermal nevus, the melanocytes are found only in the dermis, the …
Read More »
