When you receive a pathology report, many of the findings in it apply to concepts that go beyond any single diagnosis. Staging, grading, margins, testing methods, and report structure are the same whether you have a breast cancer diagnosis, a colon cancer diagnosis, or something else entirely. The articles in this section explain those concepts …
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Squamous dysplasia is a precancerous condition, which means the affected cells are not cancerous but have the potential to develop into cancer over time if left untreated. The term describes changes in squamous cells, which are flat cells that cover the surface of certain tissues in the body. Under the microscope, these cells look abnormal, and …
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High grade squamous dysplasia of the esophagus is a precancerous change in the cells lining the esophagus, the muscular tube that carries food and liquid from the mouth to the stomach. The inner surface of the esophagus is covered by squamous epithelium, a layered sheet of flat protective cells. New cells are made at the …
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Low grade squamous dysplasia of the esophagus is a precancerous change in the cells lining the esophagus, the muscular tube that carries food and liquid from the mouth to the stomach. The inner surface of the esophagus is covered by squamous epithelium, a layered sheet of flat protective cells. New cells are produced at the …
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The gastroesophageal junction is the area where the esophagus meets the stomach. The esophagus is a tube that carries food and liquids from your mouth to your stomach, while the stomach is a muscular organ that begins digesting food. The gastroesophageal junction is a barrier to prevent stomach acid and other contents from flowing back …
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Struma ovarii is a specialized type of mature teratoma of the ovary in which thyroid tissue makes up the predominant or only component of the tumor. The word “struma” is a Latin term that has historically referred to the thyroid gland. Most cases of struma ovarii are noncancerous and behave in a completely benign way. …
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The term suspicious for malignancy is used by pathologists to describe findings that strongly suggest cancer but lack enough clear evidence to make a definitive diagnosis. When this term appears in your pathology report, it means the pathologist sees some features of cancer in your tissue sample but needs more information or additional testing before …
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DOG1 (Discovered On GIST-1) is a protein found on the surface of certain cells. Pathologists use it as a diagnostic marker, a protein they can stain for to help identify what type of tumor they are looking at. DOG1 was first discovered in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), which is where its name comes from, but …
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Liposarcoma is a type of cancer that develops from fat cells. It is classified as a soft tissue sarcoma, which means it arises in the connective tissues of the body. Liposarcomas are most commonly found in areas where fat is normally present, such as the abdomen or limbs. While liposarcoma is rare, it is one …
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ERG is a protein made by certain types of cells throughout the body. It belongs to a group of proteins called transcription factors, which control how cells turn specific genes on or off. By regulating genes, ERG plays a key role in developing and maintaining healthy blood vessels and can influence the growth of certain …
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