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Discussion Case #10
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Metaplasia - A Mimic of Carcinoma…

  • nFlat sheets of squamous cells

  • nWell defined borders

  • nUniform nuclei

  • nNormal N:C ratio

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Squamous Metaplasia-imp1

  • nNormal respiratory airways: lined by glandular, columnar epithelium, not by squamous cells
  • nWhen metaplasia occurs: squamous cells are stacked, flattened & have intercellular bridges
  • nCompared to normal squamous epithelium, these cells have lost some of the surface maturation.
 
     
   
 
Squamous Metaplastic Cells
 
  • nCytoplasm: adequate and dense with occasional heavy keratinization bright orange-stained or dark blue-green, glassy appearance
  • nnCytoplasmic border: smooth and regular, thin and sharp (70%) or indistinct
  • nNuclei : central, moderate in size (8-15u), round  occasional irregularity of shape as the result of cellular molding
  • n Chromatin: increased and dense, often appearing semipyknotic, with no discernible pattern
 
     
   
 

Squamous Metaplasia –imp 2

  • nNormal stratified squamous cells mature

    nBut

  • nSquamous metaplasia typically occurs as a response to irritation, and may progress to become a precancerous lesion.

  • nBut this lesion is not cancer, the basement membrane is intact and  there is no invasion of the underlying stroma

 
     
 

Diagnosis

Squamous Metaplasia & Reactive Cells