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
Cell most often refers to:
* Cell (biology), the functional basic unit of life
* Cellphone, a phone connected to a cellular network
* Clandestine cell, a penetration-resistant form of a secret or outlawed organization
* Electrochemical cell, a de ...
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
A Hürthle cell is a transformed (metaplasia) thyroid follicular cell with "enlarged mitochondria and enlarged round nuclei with prominent nucleoli", resulting in eosinophilia in the cytoplasm.
Oncocytes in the thyroid are often called Hürthl ...
'' (
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
Apocrine () is a term used to classify the mode of secretion of exocrine glands. In apocrine secretion, secretory cells accumulate material at their apical ends, often forming blebs or "snouts", and this material then buds off from the cells ...
-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
Follicular thyroid cancer accounts for 15% of thyroid cancer and occurs more commonly in women over 50 years of age. Thyroglobulin (Tg) can be used as a tumor marker for well-differentiated follicular thyroid cancer. Thyroid follicular cells are ...
, a variant of
follicular thyroid carcinoma
Follicular thyroid cancer accounts for 15% of thyroid cancer and occurs more commonly in women over 50 years of age. Thyroglobulin (Tg) can be used as a tumor marker for well-differentiated follicular thyroid cancer. Thyroid follicular cells are ...
.
*
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