Arteriosclerosis

Arteriosclerosis, Aortic Dissection and Aneurysm Pathology Study Guide

Arteriosclerosis Arteriosclerosis is due to the blood artery wall thickening, literally "hard arteries." The types of arteriosclerosis include: Atherosclerosis (hardening and narrowing of large arteries) Arteriolosclerosis (hardening and calcification of small arteries) Mönckeberg medial calcific sclerosis (hardening and narrowing of…
Splenic Marginal Zone Lymphoma

Lymphoma Pathology Study Guide

Lymphadenopathy (LAD) Large lymph nodes are referred to as lymphadenopathy (LAD). Typically, lymph nodes that are draining an area of acute infection show painful lymphadenopathy (acute lymphadenitis). Causes of lymphadenopathy include: Benign lymph node hyperplasia Reactive lymph node Acute inflammation…
Polyarteritis Nodosa

Vascular Pathology Study Guide

Vascular pathology refers to disorders that effect the vascular system. Key take home points to know about vascular pathology includes the following: Vasculitis Pathology Study Guide Hypertension Pathology Study Guide Arteriosclerosis, Aortic Dissection and Aneurysm Pathology Study Guide Vascular Tumors…
Pulmonary Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis

Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis Pathology Study Guide

Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis The skin is the primary location of Langerhans cells, which are specialized dendritic cells. Langerhans cells are derived from bone marrow monocytes.  Langerhans cells present antigen to naive T cells. A neoplastic growth of Langerhans cells is…
Multiple Myeloma

Plasma Cell Disorder Pathology Study Guide

Plasma Cell Disorders (Dyscrasias) Plasma cell disorders are also known as plasma cell dyscrasias. Examples of plasma cell disorders include: Multiple myeloma (MM) Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM) Multiple Myeloma Multiple myeloma (MM) is a malignant…
Leukopenia

Leukopenia and Leukocytosis Pathology Study Guide

Leukopenia and Leukocytosis Hematopoiesis is a stepwise maturation of CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells. From the bone marrow, hematopoietic cells develop and are released into the blood. A white blood cell (WBC) count of 5,000 - 10,000 WBCs per microliter is…
Macrocytic Anemia

Macrocytic Anemia Pathology Study Guide

Macrocytic Anemia Macrocytic anemia is anemia with MCV > 100 micrometer3. Macrocytic anemia is usually caused by folate or vitamin B12 deficiency (megaloblastic anemia). Folate and vitamin B12 are required for synthesis of DNA precursors. Folate circulates as methyltetrahydrofolate (methyl…
Normocytic Anemia

Normocytic Anemia Pathology Study Guide

Normocytic Anemia Normocytic anemia is anemia with normal sized red blood cells (MCV = 80 - 100 micrometers3). Normocytic anemia is typically due: Raised peripheral destruction of red blood cells (RBCs) Underproduction of red blood cells (RBCs) The difference between…
T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia/Lymphoma (T-ALL)

Acute Leukemia Pathology Study Guide

Acute Leukemia Acute leukemia is the neoplastic proliferation of blast cells. The abnormal blood cells in acute leukemia are immature blood cells called blasts.  Acute leukemia is defined as the accumulation of greater than 20% blasts in the bone marrow.…
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia/Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma

Chronic Leukemia Pathology Study Guide

Chronic Leukemia Chronic leukemia involves leukemia of mature blood cells. Chronic leukemia is typically insidious in onset and visible in elderly adults. Examples of chronic leukemias include: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) Hairy cell leukemia (HCL) Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma…