Psammoma body

Micrograph of psammoma body in the centre of the field in a meningioma of brain. H&E stain.

A psammoma body is a round collection of calcium, seen microscopically. The term is derived from the Greek word ψάμμος (psámmos), meaning "sand".

Cause

Psammoma bodies are associated with the papillary (nipple-like) histo morphology and are thought to arise from,

Infarction and calcification of papillae tips.
Calcification of intralymphatic tumor thrombi.^[1]

Association with lesions

Psammoma bodies are commonly seen in certain tumors such as:

Papillary thyroid carcinoma
Papillary renal cell carcinoma
Ovarian papillary serous cystadenoma and cystadenocarcinoma^[2]
Endometrial adenocarcinomas (Papillary serous carcinoma ~3%-4%)
Meningiomas, in the central nervous system^[3]
Peritoneal and Pleural Mesothelioma
Somatostatinoma (pancreas)^[4]
Prolactinoma of the pituitary ^[5]
Glucagonoma
Micropapillary subtype of Lung Adenocarcinoma^[6]

Benign lesions

Micrograph of a psammomatous melanotic schwannoma with a psammoma body, as may be seen in Carney complex. H&E stain.

Psammoma bodies may be seen in:

Endosalpingiosis^[7]
Psammomatous melanotic schwannoma
Melanocytic nevus^[8]

Appearance

Psammoma bodies usually have a laminar appearance, are circular, acellular and basophilic.

References

^ Johannessen JV, Sobrinho-Simões M (September 1980). "The origin and significance of thyroid psammoma bodies". Lab. Invest. 43 (3): 287–96. PMID 7401638.
^ Ovarian papillary serous cystadenocarcinoma at WebPath, The Internet Pathology Laboratory for Medical Education at Mercer University School of Medicine. Retrieved July 2011
^ http://spinwarp.ucsd.edu/neuroweb/Text/br-300b.htm
^ Lewis RB (2010). "Pancreatic Endocrine Tumors: Radiologic-Clinicopathologic Correlation". RadioGraphics. 30: 1445–1464. doi:10.1148/rg.306105523.
^ Robbin's Pathology, Eight Ed
^ Emoto K, Eguchi T, Tan KS, Takahashi Y, Aly RG, Rekhtman N, Travis WD, Adusumilli PS (2019). "Expansion of the Concept of Micropapillary Adenocarcinoma to Include a Newly Recognized Filigree Pattern as Well as the Classical Pattern Based on 1468 Stage I Lung Adenocarcinomas". J Thorac Oncol. 14: 1948–1961. doi:10.1016/j.jtho.2019.07.008. PMID 31352072.
^ Hallman KB, Nahhas WA, Connelly PJ (September 1991). "Endosalpingiosis as a source of psammoma bodies in a Papanicolaou smear. A case report". J Reprod Med. 36 (9): 675–8. PMID 1774734.
^ Rapini, Ronald. Practical Dermatopathology. Elsevier Mosby, 2005, p. 10.

External links

Slides:

[1] Johannessen JV, Sobrinho-Simões M (September 1980). "The origin and significance of thyroid psammoma bodies". Lab. Invest. 43 (3): 287–96. PMID 7401638.

[2] Ovarian papillary serous cystadenocarcinoma at WebPath, The Internet Pathology Laboratory for Medical Education at Mercer University School of Medicine. Retrieved July 2011

[3] ttp://spinwarp.ucsd.edu/neuroweb/Text/br-300b.htm

[4] Lewis RB (2010). "Pancreatic Endocrine Tumors: Radiologic-Clinicopathologic Correlation". RadioGraphics. 30: 1445–1464. doi:10.1148/rg.306105523.

[5] Robbin's Pathology, Eight Ed

[6] Emoto K, Eguchi T, Tan KS, Takahashi Y, Aly RG, Rekhtman N, Travis WD, Adusumilli PS (2019). "Expansion of the Concept of Micropapillary Adenocarcinoma to Include a Newly Recognized Filigree Pattern as Well as the Classical Pattern Based on 1468 Stage I Lung Adenocarcinomas". J Thorac Oncol. 14: 1948–1961. doi:10.1016/j.jtho.2019.07.008. PMID 31352072.

[pmid1774734-7] Hallman KB, Nahhas WA, Connelly PJ (September 1991). "Endosalpingiosis as a source of psammoma bodies in a Papanicolaou smear. A case report". J Reprod Med. 36 (9): 675–8. PMID 1774734.

[8] Rapini, Ronald. Practical Dermatopathology. Elsevier Mosby, 2005, p. 10.

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