Shades of Purple

[anatomicalpathology-blog]

LCIS – lobular carcinoma in situ of the breast

A typical case of LCIS showing absence of atypia, nuclear pleomorphism, increased mitotic activity or necrosis. Presence of any of these features alone or in combination results in designation of pleomorphic LCIS.

Following the diagnosis of LCIS, approximately 20% to 30% of patients will develop invasive carcinoma in the absence of therapy. The increased risk applies to both breasts, although it is greater on the side of the diagnostic biopsy. The invasive carcinoma could be either lobular or ductal type.

[anatomicalpathology-blog]

[anatomicalpathology-blog]

Aschoff body.

Aschoff bodies are nodules found in the myocardium and are characteristic of rheumatic heart disease. Fully developed Aschoff bodies are granulomatous structures consisting of fibrinoid change, lymphocytic infiltration, occasional plasma cells, and characteristically abnormal macrophages surrounding necrotic centres. Some of these macrophages may fuse to form multinucleated giant cells. Others may become Anitschkow cells. Source

[anatomicalpathology-blog]

Anitschkow Myocytes in an Aschoff Body, Rheumatic Myocarditis by Ed Uthman

Anitschkow cells are enlarged macrophages or cardiac histiocytes found within Aschoff bodies (which are thought to be granulomas) associated with rheumatic heart disease. They are also called caterpillar cells: with an ovoid nucleus and a chromatin that is condensed toward the center in a wavy pattern, they resemble a caterpillar.

[anatomicalpathology-blog]

Ependymal cells

Most normal brain and spinal cord elements, such as neurons and glia, are rarely if ever detected in CSF derived by lumbar puncture. Papillary fragments of cuboidal cells probably originating in the choroid plexus are, however, occasionally seen.

Because fragments of choroid plexus cannot be reliably distinguished cytologically from ependymal cells , these elements are termed ependymalchoroidal cells by some observers. Regardless of the histogenesis of these cells in an individual case, it is important to recognize this normal cellular component to avoid mistaking these fragments for neoplasia. Other normal elements sometimes encountered in CSF obtained by lumbar puncture are chondrocytes from the intervertebral disk.  The presence of these cells is probably a physical phenomenon related to direct contact of the sampling needle with the disk and carries no known pathologic significance. Isolated, benign spindle-shaped cells are encountered rarely. Although some observers have considered them to represent astrocytes, others believe that they are fibroblasts from the loose connective tissue of the SAS.

Source

[anatomicalpathology-blog]

Councilman body

In pathology, a Councilman body, also known as Councilman hyaline body or apoptotic body, is an acidophilic (eosinophilic / pink-staining on H&E) globule of cells that represents a dying hepatocyte often surrounded by normal parenchyma.

They are found in the liver of individuals suffering from viral hepatitis (acute), yellow fever, or other viral syndromes. It represents a hepatocyte that is undergoing necrosis/apoptosis. Liver biopsy of acute viral hepatitis typically shows panlobular lymphocytic infiltrates with ballooning hepatocytes (indicative of hepatocyte necrosis and hepatocyte apoptosis).Until recently the presence of Councilman bodies in a liver biopsy was thought to be sufficient evidence for a diagnosis of yellow fever. However, they have since been found also to be present in other viral hemorrhagic fevers along with acute viral hepatitis, and thus may no longer be considered as diagnostic for yellow fever.

Source

[campbellillustrations]

Medical Infographic #1: The Pathology Lab Process

CLIENT  Dr. Richard Oparka, MBChB, FRCPath Department of Histopathology, University of Dundee School of Medicine 

DESCRIPTION Each year new medical and life sciences students enter the hospital’s pathology lab to learn about their step-by-step process on how they process specimens and obtain results. Dr. Oparka, also the teaching lead of pathology, was looking for a visual resource that illustrates each step. This was when he came to me to discuss the possibility of creating a poster that’s not only educational but also fun and eye-catching for his student audience. 

APPROACH I proposed that we go with a flat illustrative style that can not only illustrate the various steps needed but keep the overall design clean as well as effectively outline each step. Copy on poster written by Dr. Richard Oparka Histopahology imagaing provided by Dr. Richard Oparka Design and illustrations by Annie Campbell

This project was originally published on my Behance page:

https://www.behance.net/gallery/28094781/Isometric-Poster-Design-The-Pathology-Lab-Process

Booking in and labelling specimen by laboratory personnel

Specimen container with barcode for identification

Gross examination, recording and cutting of specimen carried out by pathologist

Cut specimens are placed in small, labelled containers called cassettes. 

Cassettes are placed into a processor overnight

Processor gradually removes water from the specimen

Processed tissue fragments are taken out of the processor and cassettes and transferred to a tissue embedding station.

Specimen segments are then embedded in paraffin wax blocks that harden at room temperature.

Wax blocks are then transferred to a microtome station.

The microtome cuts the wax blocks into extremely thin slices.

Thin specimen slices are placed on a slide and put through an automatic slide coverslipper before being put through a stainer.

The specimen slides are stained with eosin (red) and haematoxylin (blue).

Once stained the slides are then ready for review by the pathologist through a microscope. They will then be able to make a diagnosis or undertake further techniques to aid in diagnosis. 

[ambulantbunny-blog]

Les “macrophages” alvéolaires sont appelés cellules à poussières.

c'est tellement adorable, je ne comprends pas!