SMARCA4-deficient undifferentiated tumour of the lung is a rare and aggressive type of lung cancer. The term “undifferentiated” means that the cancer cells do not look like normal lung cells. The tumour is called “SMARCA4-deficient” because it lacks a functional SMARCA4 gene, which normally helps regulate how cells grow and develop. What are the symptoms …
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Ghost cells are a specific type of dead cell seen under the microscope in certain medical conditions. They are called “ghost” cells because they appear as pale, empty outlines of the original cell, almost as if the cell is a shadow or “ghost” of itself. These cells no longer function and have lost their internal …
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ALK (anaplastic lymphoma kinase) is a gene that normally plays a role in the development of nerve cells. In healthy adult tissue, the ALK gene is essentially switched off, producing little to no protein. In some cancers, however, a structural change in the DNA causes the ALK gene to fuse with another gene — a …
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A branchial cleft cyst is a fluid-filled sac that forms on the side of the neck, usually just in front of the ear or under the jaw. It develops from tissues in the neck that didn’t fully form during embryonic development. These cysts are typically benign (non-cancerous) and can appear at any age, though they …
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Exogenous hormone effect refers to changes in the body’s tissues caused by hormones that come from an external source, such as medications. These changes can be seen when a pathologist examines tissue under a microscope and are different from those caused by hormones produced naturally by the body. Estrogen, progesterone, and androgens are the types …
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Chronic endometritis is a long-term inflammation of the endometrium, which is the inner lining of the uterus. Inflammation occurs when the immune system sends special cells to fight infection or injury. Unlike acute inflammation, which occurs suddenly and typically resolves quickly, chronic inflammation develops gradually and can persist for weeks or months. Chronic endometritis may be …
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A thyroglossal duct cyst is a noncancerous (benign), fluid-filled lump that usually appears in the middle of the front of the neck. It forms during early development, when the thyroid gland moves from the back of the tongue down to its normal position in the lower neck. As the thyroid gland moves, it travels through …
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Microglandular hyperplasia is a noncancerous condition of the cervix. It happens when the glandular cells in the cervix grow in greater numbers than usual and form many small, crowded glands. The word hyperplasia refers to an increase in the number of cells within the glands. This condition is harmless and is most often discovered by chance when …
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Tunnel clusters are groups of small gland-like structures that can form in the cervix, which is the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina. These glands are lined by the same mucus-producing cells that are normally found in the cervix. Under the microscope, they often appear as tightly packed tubes or tunnels, …
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A Nabothian cyst is a small, fluid-filled sac that develops on the surface of the cervix. The cervix is the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina. Nabothian cysts are very common and benign, meaning they are noncancerous and generally harmless. They form when tiny mucus-producing glands in the cervix become blocked. …
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