Gross Pathology Descriptive Terms

abrasion

an irregular skin defect, or scraped area of the skin.

it is an injury caused by superficial damage to the skin, no deeper than the epidermis

scarring does not usually occur, due to the superficial nature of the wound.

commonly affects: skin

adhesion

opaque light-tan or gray-tan fibrous bands of scar tissue that form between internal organs and tissues, joining them together abnormally

term are part of the body’s healing process and help limit the spread of infection

they are commonly seen in perforated specimens and as a result of previous surgery

commonly affects: loops of the intestines and other abdominal organs or the abdominal wall; liver, bladder, tissues of uterus

annular/circinate

a lesion or area of interest that is shaped like, or forms, a ring

this type of lesion likely indicates an inflammatory process or a malignant process

commonly affects: mucous membranes, skin

anthracotic pigment

black diffuse pigmentation on the surface of a specimen

an accumulation of carbon pigment from breathing dirty air or smoke

smokers have this the most pronounced, but it can be seen in the majority of urban inhabitants

commonly affects: lungs, mediastinal lymph nodes

apple-core

a relatively short, sharply defined lesion of circumferential, annular, constricting colonic narrowing with overhanging margins

most commonly, this lesion is an adenocarcinoma arising in the large intestine, but can present as a tumor in the esophagus

commonly affects: large intestine, small intestine, esophagus

asymmetrical

a lesion, organ, or area of interest that lacks symmetry

asymmetrical specimens exhibit dissimilarity in corresponding, normally similar parts or organs on opposite sides of the body

commonly affects: any disease process including tumors, inflammation, and edema

atelectatic

a collapse of lung tissue affecting part or all of a lung

blockages can occur due to a mucous “plug”, foreign object, or tumor, or because of a surgical complication. when a blockage occurs, the alveoli are unable to fill with air: collapse of lung tissue can occur in affected areas

this condition may be localized or may affect all of both lungs

commonly affects: lungs

atrophic

a wasting or decrease in size of a body organ, tissue, or part owing to injury, disease, or lack of use

commonly affects: anything

bilateral

any gross appearance involving both the left and right sides of the body

refers to paired organs that are on opposite sides of the body, such as kidneys, parotid glands, etc.

the term can also be used to describe conditions and procedures that affect both body sides

commonly affects: any organ that exhibits bilateral symmetry such as the kidneys, adrenal glands, thyroid, ovaries, and lungs

bile-stained

a green to dark-green fluid that is absorbed into the lining or mucosa of a specimen

bile originates in the liver, and is concentrated and stored in the gallbladder

commonly affects: gall bladder, small intestine, peritoneal cavity, stomach

bivalved

a specimen cut into 2 equal parts

usually done in the pathology lab: specimens are generally sent intact to the lab

it is done to examine the internal contents of specimens, or to facilitate formalin fixation of pathologic specimens

commonly affects: any tissue removed from the body and sent to pathology lab

blister

a localized swelling of the skin that contains watery fluid

saccular skin vesicles filled with serous fluid that separate the epidermis and/or dermis, and that can arise from trauma, burns, or vesicatory agents

commonly affects: skin, mucosa

bosselated

an area marked by numerous bosses or rounded protuberances

usually reserved for describing the surface of specimens

underlying tumors are usually responsible for this terms areas

commonly affects: skin; serosal and organ sufaces

botryoid

numerous rounded protuberances

the protuberances can be fluid-filled cystic structures or solid

they are usually translucent or transparent

they resemble “a bunch of grapes”

commonly affects: soft tissue tumors, molar pregnancies, polyps

bulla

a large vesicle or blister (>5 mm diameter)

similar to blisters in contents and appearance, but larger

the term is often used to describe thin-walled balloon-like extensions or air sacs that are commonly found in lungs

commonly affects: skin, lung

calculus

firm stone-like objects that occupy lumens or ducts

calculi are usually found in biliary and urinary tracts

calculi are abnormal stones formed in body tissues by an accumulation of mineral salts

commonly affects: gall bladder, kidneys

caseous

a necrotic lesion or area of interest that is cottage cheese-like in appearance

commonly affects: lung

centrally located

a lesion or landmark that occupies the central space of a specimen

commonly affects: anything

chalky

an opaque tan or white-tan soft material occupying spaces or surfaces in a specimen

this term is also often used to describe the unique gross features of a person with gout

this material usually indicates defective calcification or fatty necrosis

commonly affects: toes, soft tissues, teeth

circular/donut-shaped

a lesion or specimen that is circular and hollow

can be used to refer to the shape of a lesion or the shape of a whole specimen

commonly affects: anything

circumferential

a lesion or area of interest that is encircling and/or pertains to a perimeter of a specimen

often reserved for gross descriptions of luminal specimens, such as the intestinal tract

commonly affects: luminal structures, GI tract

circumscribed

a lesion or structure contained in a well-defined area, or within definite boundaries or limits

usually used to describe the appearance of a lesion within a specimen

well-term lesions are often benign

commonly affects: anything

clot/thrombus

dark-red, soft, insoluble, jelly-like masses

formed when blood or lymph coagulates

can cause heart attack, stroke, or other serious medical issues

commonly affects: vessels, major organ systems

coalesced

a lesion with 2 or more areas adherent or attached to each other due to a pathologic process

term lesions have a joining or fusing of parts

in pathology, this is commonly observed as numerous raised nodules that often appear in groups on the skin surface of the knees, elbows, and lower extremities. the nodules term to form a large patch that appears as a single lesion

commonly affects: any area affected by multifocal disease

cobblestone

a morphology or pattern characterized by multiple, similarly sized, rounded densities, which project from a single linear surface that rises above a flattened plane

typical example arises from uniform nodules, due to submucosal edema, with criss-crossing of the ulcers through inflamed but intact intestinal mucosa

commonly affects: GI tract

congested

a lesion or area of interest with dark-blue to purple tissue

tissue is characterized by an excessive accumulation of a substance such as blood. may result from increased production of the substance and/or flow of the substance into the tissue

also can result from a decreased ability of the heart to pump, leading to lung term

commonly affects: anything

corrugated

a lesion or area of interest that has folds, or parallel and alternating ridges and grooves

commonly affects: anything

crystalline

a lesion or area of interest that is transparent, and appears composed of mineral, glass, or crystal

the appearance comes from plane faces intersecting at definite angles

appearance is often associated with calculi or crystal-forming diseases

commonly affects: gallbladder, kidney

cylindrical

a lesion or gross appearance that relates to, or has the shape of a cylinder, especially of a circular cylinder

in the body, there are many structures that have a lumen and are referred to as term in shape

commonly affects: appendix, fallopian tube, vas deferens

cystic

an abnormal membranous sac containing a gaseous, liquid, or semisolid substance

commonly affects: ovarian cysts, dermoid cysts, blood cysts, hydatid, pilar cysts, sebaceous cysts

defect

an imperfection or hole in a specimen

usually associated with trauma or surgery

commonly affects: anything

degeneration

necrosis; or areas of solid, uninvolved tissue with central or peripheral necrosis

often seen grossly in large tumor masses that have outgrown their blood supply

hallmark of tissues, cells, or organs with gradual deterioration, impairment, or loss of function, caused by injury, disease, or aging

commonly affects: anything

demarcated

a lesion or area of interest that shows a sharp transition from one gross appearance to another

the transition may occur from a disease process to normal tissue

commonly affects: anything, but most commonly seen in GI tract

dense/solid

a compact structure, containing no hollow or liquid-filled pockets

often, tissues can present as term due to a desmoplasmic response to chronic inflammation and/or tumors

both benign and malignant tumors can have this appearance

commonly affects: anything, but mostly breast and colon

depressed

an area of interest that exhibits a hollow area with downward or inward displacement

may indicate a disease process such as edema, where indentation is produced by pressure

commonly affects: anything, but mostly subcutaneous tissues

diffuse

a disease process that is spread out or distributed across a specimen

a term distribution of a lesion may indicate a local metastasis in malignant lesions

commonly affects: anything

dilated

a widening or expansion of a particular area in a specimen

usually reserved for luminal structures of the body, includding vessels and areas of the GI tract

can arise from increased vascular flow in vessels or obstructions in luminal structures

commonly affects: GI tract, vessels, fallopian tubes

discoloration

an alteration in color from normal appearance

can arise from a variety of disease processes- for example, tumors, and infarcts of vasculature

commonly affects: anything

distended

stretching or swelling in a specimen caused by internal pressure

commonly affects: GI tract

diverticulum

an outpouching of a hollow (or fluid-filled) structure

can affect many or all the layers of the structure involved

severe term disease can cause perforations, resulting in abscesses and bleeding, especially in the colon

commonly affects: GI tract, urethra, bladder, gallbladder, appendix