Adenoma: Encyclopedia II - Adenoma - Histopathology

Adenoma - Histopathology

Adenoma is a benign epithelial tumor arising in epithelium of mucosa (stomach, small intestine and bowel), glands (endocrine and exocrine) and ducts.

In hollow organs (digestive tract) the adenoma grows upwards into the lumen - adenomatous polyp or polypoid adenoma.

Depending on the type of the insertion base, adenoma may be pedunculated (lobular head with a long, slender stalk, covered by normal mucosa) or sessile (broad base).

The adenomatous proliferation is characterized by different degrees of cell dysplasia (atypia or loss of normal differentiation of epithelium): irregular cells with hyperchromatic nuclei, (pseudo)stratified nuclei, nucleolus, decreased mucosecretion and mitosis.

The architecture may be tubular, villous or tubulo-villous. Basement membrane and muscularis mucosae are intact.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Histopathology", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki