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An oncocyte is an
epithelial Epithelium or epithelial tissue is a thin, continuous, protective layer of cells with little extracellular matrix. An example is the epidermis, the outermost layer of the skin. Epithelial ( mesothelial) tissues line the outer surfaces of man ...
cell characterized by an excessive number of
mitochondria A mitochondrion () is an organelle found in the cells of most eukaryotes, such as animals, plants and fungi. Mitochondria have a double membrane structure and use aerobic respiration to generate adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is us ...
, resulting in an abundant acidophilic, granular
cytoplasm The cytoplasm describes all the material within a eukaryotic or prokaryotic cell, enclosed by the cell membrane, including the organelles and excluding the nucleus in eukaryotic cells. The material inside the nucleus of a eukaryotic cell a ...
. Oncocytes can be
benign Malignancy () is the tendency of a medical condition to become progressively worse; the term is most familiar as a characterization of cancer. A ''malignant'' tumor contrasts with a non-cancerous benign tumor, ''benign'' tumor in that a malig ...
or
malignant Malignancy () is the tendency of a medical condition to become progressively worse; the term is most familiar as a characterization of cancer. A ''malignant'' tumor contrasts with a non-cancerous benign tumor, ''benign'' tumor in that a malig ...
.


Other names

Also known as: *'' Hürthle cell'' (
thyroid gland The thyroid, or thyroid gland, is an endocrine gland in vertebrates. In humans, it is a butterfly-shaped gland located in the neck below the Adam's apple. It consists of two connected lobes. The lower two thirds of the lobes are connected by ...
only) *'' Oxyphilic cell'' *''Askanazy cell'' *'' Apocrine-type
metaplasia Metaplasia () is the transformation of a cell type to another cell type. The change from one type of cell to another may be part of a normal maturation process, or caused by some sort of abnormal stimulus. In simplistic terms, it is as if the ...
'' (breast gland only). *''Oncocytic cell''


Etymology

Derived from the Greek root onco-, which means mass, bulk.


See also

* Hurthle cell carcinoma, a variant of follicular thyroid carcinoma. *
Oncocytoma An oncocytoma is a tumor made up of oncocytes, epithelial cell (biology), cells characterized by an excessive amount of mitochondria, resulting in an abundant acidophilic, granular cytoplasm. The cells and the tumor that they compose are often be ...
, a tumour composed of oncocytes, may be found as a less common salivary gland neoplasm also known as oxyphilic adenoma. *
Renal oncocytoma A renal oncocytoma is a tumour of the kidney made up of oncocytes, epithelial cells with an excess amount of mitochondria. Signs and symptoms Renal oncocytomas are often asymptomatic and are frequently discovered by chance on a CT or ultrasoun ...
, a kidney tumour composed of oncocytes.


References

{{Reflist


External links


Wordinfo - words containing onco-, onocho-, -onchus
Epithelial cells Mitochondria Oncology