Difference between revisions of "Reactive changes"

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# Inflammation.
# Inflammation.
# Nuclear changes compatible with inflammation.
# Nuclear changes compatible with inflammation.
# The absence of both neoplasia ''and'' the suspicious of neoplasia, i.e. it implies benignancy.
# The absence of both neoplasia ''and'' the suspicion of neoplasia, i.e. it implies benignancy.


'''Reactive inflammatory changes''' and '''inflammatory changes''' can be considered synonyms.
'''Reactive inflammatory changes''' and '''inflammatory changes''' can be considered synonyms.
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*[[NC ratio]].
*[[NC ratio]].
*[[Reactive squamous epithelium of the uterine cervix]].
*[[Reactive squamous epithelium of the uterine cervix]].
*[[Reactive astrocytes]].


[[Category:Stuff]]
[[Category:Stuff]]

Latest revision as of 18:28, 31 July 2016

Reactive changes is a commonly used term in pathology that implies:

  1. Inflammation.
  2. Nuclear changes compatible with inflammation.
  3. The absence of both neoplasia and the suspicion of neoplasia, i.e. it implies benignancy.

Reactive inflammatory changes and inflammatory changes can be considered synonyms.

General

Nuclear changes are seen in:

  • Inflammatory processes.
  • Repair.
  • Neoplastic processes, i.e. pre-cancerous conditions (e.g. dysplasia) and cancer.

Significance of nuclear changes in inflammation:

  • The line between a reactive process and a neoplastic process may be fuzzy, i.e. it may be very difficult to be certain whether something is benign or malignant.

Consequence:

  • In the context of inflammation, nuclear changes are typically present and the threshold for calling suspicious for malignancy or malignancy is typically higher.

Microscopic

Features - generic:

  • Nuclear changes - typically:
    • Nuclear enlargement.
    • Nuclear hyperchromasia.
    • Prominent nucleoli.
  • Inflammation - any type (e.g. neutrophilic, plasmacytic, lymphoplasmacytic).
  • +/-Proliferation (e.g. mitotic figures) or changes suggestive of proliferation (e.g. hyperplasia).

Notes:

  • Cytoplasmic changes may be present.

DDx:

  • Normal.
  • Waffle diagnosis - nuclear changes of unknown significance.
  • Nuclear atypia.
    • This is often qualified as it may represent a neoplastic process or a benign process.
    • Common qualifiers:
      • Worrisome lesions: "... cannot exclude dysplasia", "... cannot exclude malignancy", "... suspicious for malignancy".
      • Suspected to be benign: "... favour benign".
  • Malignancy.

See also