Calcification is the buildup of calcium salts within body tissue where calcium is not normally found in significant amounts. While calcium is essential in bones and teeth — where it provides strength and structure — its accumulation in soft tissues such as the breast, arteries, lymph nodes, or organs is abnormal and can signal a …
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In pathology, a tangentially sectioned tissue sample is one cut at an angle rather than straight across. When a sample is cut at an angle, the layers of tissue overlap in the thin slice placed on the microscope slide. This can make the sample difficult to interpret, and sometimes it prevents the pathologist from seeing …
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Atypical endometrial hyperplasia (AEH) is a precancerous condition of the lining of the uterus, called the endometrium. In AEH, the endometrium becomes abnormally thick and the glandular cells that make up the endometrium start to grow in a crowded and irregular pattern. The cells also look abnormal under the microscope, which is why the word …
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High grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) is a precancerous condition of the cervix caused by infection with human papillomavirus (HPV). It is composed of squamous cells infected and altered by the virus. These abnormal cells are found in the transformation zone, the part of the cervix where glandular cells are gradually replaced by squamous cells. …
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Pleomorphic adenoma is a noncancerous tumor that starts in the salivary glands — the glands that make saliva. It is the most common salivary gland tumor of any kind, in both adults and children, and accounts for about two-thirds of all salivary gland tumors. The name “pleomorphic” means “many shapes” and refers to the mix …
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Clear cell renal cell carcinoma is a type of kidney cancer. It starts from the cells that line the tiny tubes inside the kidney called tubules, which filter the blood and make urine. It is the most common type of kidney cancer in adults, making up about 7 out of every 10 kidney cancers. The …
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Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a noninvasive type of breast cancer that starts in the lining of the breast ducts — the tiny tubes that carry milk from the glands to the nipple. Noninvasive means that all the abnormal cells are confined inside the ducts and have not broken through the duct wall into …
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Follicular lymphoma is a group of closely related blood cancers that start in B cells — specialized white blood cells that normally help the body fight infection. These cancers are called “follicular” because the abnormal cells grow in round clusters called follicles, resembling the normal structures found inside healthy lymph nodes. Follicular lymphoma is the …
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Serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma — usually called STIC — is a pre-invasive form of cancer that develops in the lining of the fallopian tube. “Intraepithelial” means the abnormal cells are confined to the thin surface layer of the tube and have not grown into the deeper tissue beneath it. Because the cells have not broken …
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Seborrheic keratosis is a very common, noncancerous (benign) skin growth. It develops from squamous cells, the flat cells that make up the epidermis (the outer layer of the skin). Seborrheic keratoses become more common with age, and many people develop several over time. This article explains what a seborrheic keratosis is, what the findings in …
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