Tumour budding

Tumour budding refers to lone tumour cells or small clusters of tumour cells at the advancing front of a tumour.

Microscopic

Definitions:

• Tumour bud = 1-4 cell(s) -- at the tumour front.
• "High-grade budding" is >=10 tumour buds in a field of 0.385 mm².

Note:

• If the microscope has a 22 mm eye piece and...
  • A 20x objective, the field is approximately 0.950 mm² -- to match the buds/area -- it would be 24.68 buds/0.950 mm².
  • A 40x objective, the field is approximately 0.238 mm² -- to match the buds/area -- it would be 6.17 buds/0.238 mm².

DDx:

• Poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma.

Images

• 

  Tumour budding in CRC - intermed. mag. (WC)

• 

  Tumour budding in CRC - high mag. (WC)

• 

  Tumour budding in CRC - very high mag. (WC)

See also

• High risk features in colorectal adenomatous polyps.
• In-transit metastasis.
• Tumour deposits.