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 …
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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. …
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Xanthelasma (pronounced zan-the-las-ma) is a non-cancerous growth that appears as a soft, yellowish patch on the skin around the eyes, most often on the eyelids. These growths are composed of special immune cells called histiocytes that have become filled with fat (lipids). Because xanthelasma is harmless, it does not spread or turn into cancer. However, its …
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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, diffuse describes a change or finding that is spread throughout the tissue examined, rather than being limited to one small area. A diffuse change can be seen when a pathologist looks at the tissue by eye (called the gross examination) or under the microscope. The opposite of diffuse is focal, which describes a …
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In pathology, the term “focal” refers to something that is localized or limited to a specific area or spot, rather than being diffusely spread out or affecting a large area of tissue. When used to describe disease processes, abnormalities, or lesions, “focal” indicates that the changes or effects are confined to one or relatively small, …
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In pathology, distal is a location word. It describes a part of the body, an organ, or a tissue sample that is farther away from a reference point. Depending on what is being described, that reference point is either the center of the body or the place where a structure begins. The opposite of distal …
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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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The phrase positive for malignancy means that cancer cells were seen in the tissue or cell sample when it was examined under the microscope. In pathology, the term malignant is used to describe cancer, and positive means that something—in this case, cancer—was found. This phrase is commonly used in small tissue samples, such as core …
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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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