Oncocyte
Encyclopedia
Cell (biology)
The cell is the basic structural and functional unit of all known living organisms. It is the smallest unit of life that is classified as a living thing, and is often called the building block of life. The Alberts text discusses how the "cellular building blocks" move to shape developing embryos....
characterized by an excessive amount of mitochondria, resulting in an abundant acidophilic, granular cytoplasm
Cytoplasm
The cytoplasm is a small gel-like substance residing between the cell membrane holding all the cell's internal sub-structures , except for the nucleus. All the contents of the cells of prokaryote organisms are contained within the cytoplasm...
. Oncocytes can be benign
Benign
A benign tumor is a tumor that lacks the ability to metastasize. Common examples of benign tumors include moles and uterine fibroids.The term "benign" implies a mild and nonprogressive disease. Indeed, many kinds of benign tumors are harmless to human health...
or can undergo malignant
Malignant
Malignancy is the tendency of a medical condition, especially tumors, to become progressively worse and to potentially result in death. Malignancy in cancers is characterized by anaplasia, invasiveness, and metastasis...
transformation.
Other names
Also known as:- Hurthle cell (thyroid gland only)
- Oxyphilic cell,
- Askanazy cell,
- Apocrine metaplasia (breast gland only).
See also
- OncocytomaOncocytomaAn oncocytoma is a tumor made up of oncocytes, a special kind of cells. -Presentation:An oncocytoma is an epithelial tumor composed of oncocytes, large eosinophilic cells having small, round, benign-appearing nuclei with large nucleoli....
, a tumour composed of oncocytes, may be found as a less common salivary gland neoplasm also known as Oxyphilic Adenoma. - Renal oncocytomaRenal oncocytomaA renal oncocytoma is a tumour of the kidney made up of oncocytes, a special kind of cell.-Presentation:An oncocytoma is an epithelial tumor composed of oncocytes, large eosinophilic cells having small, round, benign-appearing nuclei with large nucleoli.-Pathophysiology:Renal oncocytoma is thought...
, a kidney tumour composed of oncocytes. - Hurthle cell carcinoma, a variant of follicular thyroid carcinoma).