Nucleolus
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The nucleolus (plural nucleoli) is a thingy in the nucleus that may give the pathologist a clue to what they are looking at.
Generally speaking, large nucleoli are uncommon. They are associated with gene transcription activity and are seen in malignancy and reactive conditions.
Macronucleolus
Almost the size of RBC ~ 6-7 micrometers.
Example:
- Reed-Sternberg cell (Hodgkin lymphoma) ~ 5-7 micrometers.[1]
Red nucleolus
Large - can be seen with 10x objective.
Examples:
Large nucleulus
Large - can be seen with 10x objective.
Examples:
- Adenocarcinoma.
- High-grade renal cell carcinoma.
- Sarcoma:
Medium-sized nucleolus
Medium - can be seen well with 20x objective.
Examples:
- Prostatic adenoacrinoma.
- Oncocytoma.
- Mammary carcinoma, no special type.
- Embyronal carcinoma.
Small
Small - hard to see at 20x objective, seen with 40x objective.
Examples:
Indistinct nucleolus
Not present - cannot see with 40x objective.
Examples:
See also
References
- ↑ Mitchell, Richard; Kumar, Vinay; Fausto, Nelson; Abbas, Abul K.; Aster, Jon (2011). Pocket Companion to Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease (8th ed.). Elsevier Saunders. pp. 329. ISBN 978-1416054542.