Talk:Pleomorphism (cytology)

Pleomorphism vs polymorphism

The disamb page Polymorphism lists "Cell polymorphism" and links to Pleomorphism.

The two are often conflated, and related, but not synonymous in Pathology and Cytopathology. They're often used in the context of neoplasia and disease, and often in different contexts depending on the process or subspecialty.

Pleomorphism (more accurately nuclear pleomorphism) refers to the varying shape and size of nuclei (often of the same type of (usually neoplastic) cell).

Polymorphism refers the various shapes or types of cells in the same lesion, or the same cell showing different forms.

For example, spermatocytic tumor is polymorphic, because the same type of cell (the germ cell) shows multiple forms (small, intermediate, and large). When there's variation between the same form of cells it's called pleomorphism.

This is most appreciable in cytopathology, where the field is entirely centered on examining the character of the individual cells.

In the context of inflammation, this could refer to the composition of the inflammatory infiltrate (polymorphic and composed of various types of inflammatory cells, dominated by lymphocytes or plasma cells, or neutrophils, etc).

—Hexafluoride ^{Ping me if you need help, or post on my talk} 07:14, 28 June 2024 (UTC)

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