Large cell

Overview of large cell characteristics in pathology

Overview

A microscopic image of a tumor giant cell, a type of large cell.

In the field of pathology, a large cell is a type of cell that is significantly larger than the typical cells found in the same tissue. Large cells can be found in various tissues and are often associated with certain diseases and conditions. They are characterized by their increased size, which can be due to a variety of factors including increased cytoplasmic volume, nuclear enlargement, or both.

Characteristics

Large cells are often identified by their distinct morphological features. These features include:

• Increased cell size: Large cells are typically much larger than the surrounding cells in the tissue.
• Nuclear enlargement: The nucleus of a large cell is often enlarged, which can be due to increased DNA content or other factors.
• Abundant cytoplasm: Large cells often have a greater volume of cytoplasm compared to normal cells.
• Prominent nucleoli: The nucleoli within the nucleus of large cells are often more prominent and easily visible under a microscope.

Types of Large Cells

Large cells can be classified into several types based on their origin and characteristics:

• Tumor giant cells: These are large cells found in certain types of cancer, such as giant cell tumor of bone and anaplastic large cell lymphoma. They are characterized by their multinucleated nature and are often associated with aggressive tumor behavior.
• Reed-Sternberg cells: These are large, abnormal lymphocytes found in Hodgkin's lymphoma. They are binucleated or multinucleated and have a distinctive appearance.
• Megakaryocytes: These are large bone marrow cells responsible for the production of platelets. They have a large, lobulated nucleus and abundant cytoplasm.

Clinical Significance

The presence of large cells in a tissue sample can be indicative of various pathological conditions. For example, the presence of tumor giant cells can suggest a diagnosis of a high-grade malignancy. Similarly, the identification of Reed-Sternberg cells is crucial for the diagnosis of Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Diagnosis

The identification of large cells is typically performed through histopathological examination of tissue samples. Techniques such as immunohistochemistry may be used to further characterize these cells and determine their origin and nature.

Related pages

• Pathology
• Histology
• Cytology
• Cancer
• Lymphoma