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oncocytic metaplasia
Friday 30 September 2016
oncocytic change
Definition: Oncocytic change is defined as cellular enlargement characterised by an abundant eosinophilic granular cytoplasm as a result of the accumulation of altered mitochondria.
See also : oncocytic cells
Images
Oncocytic metaplasia in esophageal glands
Thyroid gland
This is a phenomenon of metaplasia that occurs in thyroid inflammatory disorders, such as thyroiditis, or other situations that result in cellular stress. The proliferation of oncocytes gives rise to hyperplastic and neoplastic nodules.
Oncocytic cells in the thyroid are often called “Hürthle cells"; however, this is a misrepresentation because they were initially described by Askenazy, and the cells that Hürthle described were in fact C cells.
Nevertheless, the terminology has been established in most parts of the world (with the exception of Germany where the term “Askenazy cells” has persisted).
See also
metaplasia
oncocytic tumors