Endometrial clear cell carcinoma is a rare type of cancer that starts in the endometrium, the inner lining of the uterus. It is considered a high-grade tumour, meaning it has a higher chance of spreading beyond the uterus compared to low-grade endometrial cancers. Endometrial clear cell carcinoma behaves differently from the more common endometrial endometrioid …
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A benign phyllodes tumor is a rare, non-cancerous breast tumor that arises from the stroma (supportive connective tissue) within the breast. Unlike borderline or malignant types, benign phyllodes tumors grow slowly. They do not spread beyond their original location or to other parts of the body. What causes a benign phyllodes tumors? The exact cause …
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Sclerosing adenosis is a noncancerous (benign) change in the breast made up of an increased number of small glands that are surrounded and squeezed by dense, scar-like connective tissue. The name describes exactly what the pathologist sees: “adenosis” means more glands than usual, and “sclerosing” means the scar-like tissue that compresses them. Sclerosing adenosis is …
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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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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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An intraductal papilloma is a noncancerous (benign) tumor that grows inside one of the small milk ducts of the breast. The word intraductal means “inside the duct,” and papilloma refers to the small finger-like projections, called papillae, that form within the duct. Intraductal papillomas are among the most common benign breast tumors and cannot spread …
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Adrenal cortical carcinoma is a rare cancer that starts in the adrenal cortex, the outer part of the adrenal gland. There are two adrenal glands in the body, one on top of each kidney. The adrenal cortex normally produces hormones that help control blood pressure, salt and water balance, metabolism, sexual development, and the body’s …
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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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The Nottingham histologic grade (or modified Scarff-Bloom-Richardson grade) is a system pathologists use to evaluate breast cancer under the microscope. It helps determine the aggressiveness of the cancer and provides important information for planning treatment. The grade is based on how different the cancer cells look from normal breast cells and how quickly they are …
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Poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma (PDTC) is a rare type of thyroid cancer that arises from follicular cells, the cells in the thyroid gland that normally produce thyroid hormone. PDTC sits in the middle of the thyroid cancer spectrum: it is more aggressive than the well-differentiated thyroid cancers (papillary thyroid carcinoma and follicular thyroid carcinoma) but …
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