Well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumor with salt-and-pepper chromatin

pathology Pathology is the study of the causes and effects of disease or injury. The word ''pathology'' also refers to the study of disease in general, incorporating a wide range of biology research fields and medical practices. However, when used in ...

, salt-and-pepper chromatin, also salt-and-pepper nuclei and stippled chromatin, refers to cell nuclei that demonstrate granular

chromatin Chromatin is a complex of DNA and protein found in eukaryotic cells. The primary function is to package long DNA molecules into more compact, denser structures. This prevents the strands from becoming tangled and also plays important roles in r ...

(on

light microscopy Microscopy is the technical field of using microscopes to view objects and areas of objects that cannot be seen with the naked eye (objects that are not within the resolution range of the normal eye). There are three well-known branches of micr ...

). Salt-and-pepper chromatin is typically seen in endocrine tumours such as

medullary thyroid carcinoma Medullary thyroid cancer is a form of thyroid carcinoma which originates from the parafollicular cells (C cells), which produce the hormone calcitonin.Hu MI, Vassilopoulou-Sellin R, Lustig R, Lamont JP"Thyroid and Parathyroid Cancers"in Pazdur R, ...

neuroendocrine tumour Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are neoplasm A neoplasm () is a type of abnormal and excessive growth of tissue. The process that occurs to form or produce a neoplasm is called neoplasia. The growth of a neoplasm is uncoordinated with that of t ...

s and

pheochromocytoma Pheochromocytoma (PHEO or PCC) is a rare tumor of the adrenal medulla composed of chromaffin cells, also known as pheochromocytes. When a tumor composed of the same cells as a pheochromocytoma develops outside the adrenal gland, it is referred t ...

Additional images

File:Histopathology of well differentiated neuroendocrine tumor with salt-and-pepper chromatin, HE stain, original.jpg,

Neuroendocrine tumour Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are neoplasm A neoplasm () is a type of abnormal and excessive growth of tissue. The process that occurs to form or produce a neoplasm is called neoplasia. The growth of a neoplasm is uncoordinated with that of t ...

of the lung with ''salt-and-pepper chromatin''.

H&E stain Hematoxylin and eosin stain ( or haematoxylin and eosin stain or hematoxylin-eosin stain; often abbreviated as H&E stain or HE stain) is one of the principal tissue stains used in histology. It is the most widely used stain in medical diagnos ...

. Image:Small_intestine_neuroendocrine_tumour_high_mag_cropped.jpg,

of the

small intestine The small intestine or small bowel is an organ in the gastrointestinal tract where most of the absorption of nutrients from food takes place. It lies between the stomach and large intestine, and receives bile and pancreatic juice through the p ...

with ''salt-and-pepper chromatin''.

. Image:Adrenal pheochromocytoma (3) histopathology.jpg, A

showing finely granular chromatin.

. Image:Pheochromocytoma high mag.jpg, Salt-and-pepper chromatin (pheochromocytoma). H&E stain.

References

{{reflist

External links

Salt-and-pepper chromatin
- nature.com.

- upmc.edu. Pathology