Doughnut cells

Under the light microscope in some cells of anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL) the nucleus is ring-shaped with a ‘central opening’ thus resembling a doughnut in look – doughnut cell.

ALCL is a rare cancer of the lymphocytes (the T-lymphocyte more precisely), a kind of white blood cell, thus the designation lymphoma. Anaplastic refers to cells that are abnormal in shape and function and large-cell pertains to the relatively big cells of this cancer.

Depending on individual circumstances treatment for ALCL can include, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, surgery, etc.

Reference:

Singh S, Gupta N, Tekta GR. Imprint cytology facilitating the diagnosis of primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma of iliac fossa. J Cytol, 2012 29(4):267-9. Go to reference

Doughnut cell, doughnut

Image from Singh et al. J Cytol, 2012

Image from Wikimedia Commons

Herringbone pattern

Under the light microscope in classic cases of the soft tissue cancerous tumor fibrosarcoma, the cells are arranged like the way the branching spines of a herring skeleton are arranged – herringbone architecture.

An architecture in which a column of cells resembling one herring skeleton is oriented one way and another separate cell column again resembling the skeleton is disposed in a different direction. Under the microscope there can be several such columns.

Fibrosarcoma is a rare cancer typically afflicting adults and can be treated with surgery, radiation or chemotherapy. The soft tissues are those which support, connect or surround the body’s other structures.

Reference:

Folpe AL. Fibrosarcoma: a review and update. Histopathology. 2014 64(1):12-25. Go to reference

Herring, sarcoma

Image from Wikimedia Commons

Image from Wikimedia Commons

Image from Wikimedia Commons