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Pathologic·Pathology

Squamous cell carcinoma with keratin pearls

Stain: H&E·Magnification: 20x·Tissue: Squamous epithelium·3 labeled regions
Squamous cell carcinoma with keratin pearls histology — Pathology, H&E
Wikimedia Commons · File:Oral cancer (1) squamous cell carcinoma histopathology.jpg · https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Oral_cancer_(1)_squamous_cell_carcinoma_histopathology.jpg (CC-licensed)
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Description

Nests of malignant squamous cells with abundant pink cytoplasm + intercellular bridges. Keratin pearls (concentric layers of keratin) are pathognomonic.

Labeled regions (3)

  1. 1
    Keratin pearl

    Concentric whorl of keratinized cells — diagnostic for squamous differentiation.

  2. 2
    Intercellular bridges

    Spiny processes between cells — desmosomes.

  3. 3
    Invasive nest

    Irregular tumor island in stroma.

More pathology histology

Comedo DCIS — high-grade ductal carcinoma in situ
Comedo DCIS — high-grade ductal carcinoma in situ
Breast
Liver cirrhosis — regenerative nodules + bridging fibrosis (Trichrome)
Liver cirrhosis — regenerative nodules + bridging fibrosis (Trichrome)
Liver
Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN 2 / HSIL)
Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN 2 / HSIL)
Cervix
Acute MI — coagulative necrosis of cardiomyocytes
Acute MI — coagulative necrosis of cardiomyocytes
Heart (myocardium)
Adenocarcinoma — colon
Adenocarcinoma — colon
Colon
Granulomatous inflammation — non-caseating (sarcoid pattern)
Granulomatous inflammation — non-caseating (sarcoid pattern)