A psammoma body is a round collection of calcium, seen microscopically. The term is derived .
Cause Psammoma bodies are associated with the papillary (nipple-like) histomorphology and are thought to arise from, Infarction and calcification of papillae tips. Calcification of intralymphatic tumor thrombi.
Association with lesions Psammoma bodies are commonly seen in certain tumors such as: Papillary thyroid carcinomaChapter 20 in: 8th edition. Papillary renal cell carcinoma Ovarian papillary serous cystadenoma and cystadenocarcinomaOvarian papillary serous cystadenocarcinoma at WebPath, The Internet Pathology Laboratory for Medical Education at Mercer University School of Medicine. Retrieved July 2011 Endometrial adenocarcinomas (papillary serous carcinoma ~3%-4%) Meningiomas, in the central nervous system Peritoneal and pleural mesothelioma Somatostatinoma (pancreas) Prolactinoma of the pituitary Robbin's Pathology, Eight Ed Glucagonoma Micropapillary subtype of lung adenocarcinoma
Benign lesions
Psammoma bodies may be seen in: Endosalpingiosis Psammomatous melanotic schwannoma Melanocytic nevusRapini, Ronald. Practical Dermatopathology. Elsevier Mosby, 2005, p. 10.
Appearance Psammoma bodies usually have a laminar appearance, are circular, acellular and basophilic.
References
External links
Slides:
Thyroid cancer Endometriosis (peritoneum) Video of psammoma bodies in meningioma