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). 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 neoplasms that arise from cells of the endocrine (hormonal) and nervous systems. They most commonly occur in the intestine, where they are often called carcinoid tumors, but they are also found in the pancreas, lung ...

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 neoplasms that arise from cells of the endocrine (hormonal) and nervous systems. They most commonly occur in the intestine, where they are often called carcinoid tumors, but they are also found in the pancreas, lung ...

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 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

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External links

Salt-and-pepper chromatin
- nature.com.

- upmc.edu. Pathology