An angiolipoma is a benign (noncancerous) soft tissue tumour that develops in the subcutis, the layer of fat just beneath the skin. It is composed of two main components: mature fat cells, which resemble normal body fat, and small, thin-walled blood vessels, some of which contain tiny clots called fibrin thrombi. These features help pathologists …
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Clear cell carcinoma of the ovary is a type of ovarian cancer named for the appearance of its cells under the microscope — many of the tumor cells have large amounts of a substance called glycogen inside them, which washes out during the preparation of the tissue slide and leaves the cell’s interior looking pale, …
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Follicular adenoma is a benign (noncancerous) tumor of the thyroid gland. The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland at the front of the neck that produces hormones to regulate metabolism. Follicular adenoma develops from follicular cells, which normally produce thyroid hormone. The tumor is completely surrounded by a thin layer of tissue called a capsule, and …
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A fibroadenoma is a benign (noncancerous) type of breast tumor. It is made of both epithelial cells (the cells that line breast ducts) and stromal cells (the connective tissue that supports the ducts). Fibroadenomas are not cancerous, and having a fibroadenoma does not increase the risk of developing breast cancer in the future. If a …
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A serous cystadenoma is a common, noncancerous (benign) type of ovarian tumor. It develops from the epithelium, the thin layer of cells that covers the surface of the ovary. A serous cystadenoma consists of one or more fluid-filled spaces called cysts and is lined by serous cells. Although a serous cystadenoma is not cancer and …
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Schwannoma is a benign (non-cancerous) tumour that develops from Schwann cells, specialized cells that normally wrap around and protect nerves. Schwannoma is part of a larger group of tumours called peripheral nerve sheath tumours, which arise from the cells that support and surround nerves. In a schwannoma, Schwann cells grow slowly and form a mass …
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Chordoma is a type of bone cancer. It develops from remnants of an embryonic structure called the notochord. Chordomas almost always develop within a bone and most develop along the midline of the body in either the base of the skull or the sacrum. Chordomas are very slow-growing tumours and can reach a very large …
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A neoplasm is an abnormal growth of cells in your body. Normally, your body carefully controls how cells grow, divide, and die. In a neoplasm, this normal control is disrupted, causing cells to multiply excessively and form a lump or mass. The word “neoplasm” literally means “new growth.” Does neoplasm mean cancer? Not necessarily. While …
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In medicine, the word malignant is commonly used to describe a cancerous growth of cells. For instance, pathologists often refer to cancerous tumours as malignant tumours or malignant neoplasms. The term malignant can also describe serious, life-threatening conditions that aren’t cancer, such as dangerously high blood pressure (malignant hypertension) or extremely high internal body temperature …
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The word “mass” in a pathology report refers to an area of tissue that is larger than normal. It is a broad term used to describe a lump or abnormal growth that can be seen or felt during a physical examination or detected using imaging tests like an X-ray or MRI. A mass can occur …
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