A junctional nevus is a 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 “junctional” describes where these cells sit: at the junction between the two main layers of the skin, the epidermis (the …
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The TNM staging system is an internationally recognized way to describe how far cancer has developed and spread. It was created by the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC). This system uses detailed information about three key factors: Tumour (T): The size of the primary tumour and how far it has grown into surrounding tissue. …
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In pathology, the term diffuse describes a change that is seen throughout the tissue sample examined. Diffuse changes can be seen when the tissue is examined by eye (this is called the gross examination) or under the microscope. The opposite of diffuse is focal.
In pathology, the term distal is used to describe a part of an organ or tissue farther from the middle or center of the body than another part of the organ or tissue being examined. The opposite of distal is proximal. For example, the colon is a long tube that starts at the end of …
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In pathology, the term proximal describes the part of a tissue or organ closest to the center (midline) of the body. Doctors and pathologists use this term to explain the location of tumours, lesions, or specific areas within an organ. For example, the colon (large intestine) is a long tube divided into six sections: the …
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Reactive gastropathy, also known as chemical gastropathy, is a condition in which the stomach’s lining becomes damaged after exposure to substances not normally present in the stomach. These substances may include bile, alcohol, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen or aspirin. The damage causes changes in the cells that normally protect the stomach, …
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Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is a laboratory test used in pathology to detect and localize the presence or absence of specific DNA sequences on chromosomes. It works by using fluorescent probes that bind to only those parts of the chromosome that match or are complementary to the probe. It is commonly used in the …
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Follicular neoplasm is a preliminary diagnosis used by pathologists to describe a growth in the thyroid gland made up of cells that look like the follicular cells of the thyroid. This term is most often used after a procedure called a fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB), in which a small sample of cells is taken from …
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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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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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