Pathological descriptions — microscopic

Microscopic description

Appearance of tumor cells and their arrangement under a microscope

Alveolar

Tumor cells form patterns resembling small sacs

Carcinoma in situ

Cancerous cells localized to their original site without invasion of adjacent structures

Diffuse

Spreading evenly throughout the affected tissue

Dysplastic

Containing abnormal-appearing cells that are not clearly cancerous

Epidermoid

Resembling squamous epithelial cells

Follicular

Forming small, round, gland-like clusters

Papillary

Forming small, finger-like or nipple-like projections

Pleomorphic

Composed of cells that vary in size and shape

Scirrhous

Densely packed, hard tumor caused by dense bands of fibrous tissue

Undifferentiated

Lacking microscopic structures typical of normal mature cells