Histopathology 1 - Fundamentals of histology

Question 1

What type of cell is predominant in the inflammatory process in acute appendicitis/gastritis/mastitis?

Answer 1

Neutrophilic inflammation

Question 2

What are the 3 main causes of eosinophilia?

Answer 2

1. Allergic reactions
2. Parasitic reactions
3. Tumous eg Hodgkin’s disease (not a neoplasm of eosinophils but a reaction to the neoplastic process)

Question 3

If ‘feline contractions’ are observed in the oesophagus, what is the pathology?

Answer 3

Eosinophilic oesophagitis - probably due to a food allergen (“asthma of the oesophagus”)

Question 4

Which cells are most associated with LATE acute inflammation and granulomas

Answer 4

Macrophages

Question 5

What is a granuloma?

Answer 5

Organised collection of activated macrophages

Question 6

What are the 2 most likely causes of idiopathic granulomas?

Answer 6

Sarcoid

TB

Question 7

What is a carcinoma?

Answer 7

Malignant tumour of epithlial cells

Question 8

What are the 2 key histological features of a squamous cell carcinoma?

Answer 8

Keratin production

Intercellular bridges

Question 9

What are the 2 key histological features of an adenocarcinoma?

Answer 9

Mucin production

Glands

Question 10

What is the basic principle of how immunohistochemistry works?

Answer 10

Use an antibody to a particular antigen in a tumour and then use stains that detect those antibodies

Question 11

How do histochemical stains work?

Answer 11

Chemical reaction between chemicals added in the stain and the tissue that causes a change in colour

Question 12

What is used to stain amyloid?

Answer 12

Congo red stain

Question 13

How does amyloid appear under polarised light?

Answer 13

Apple green birefringeance

Question 14

Which polymorphs have a bilobed nucleus?

Answer 14

Eosinophils

Question 15

What is cytokeratin a marker of?

Answer 15

Epithelial cells - so can identify carcinomas

Question 16

What is CD45 a marker of?

Answer 16

Lymphoid cells - so can identify lymphomas