Nuclear atypia

Nuclear atypia and stromal desmoplasia in a colorectal adenocarcinoma. H&E stain.

Nuclear atypia, also atypical nuclei, is an abnormal change of the cell nucleus.

Nuclear atypia is often seen in malignancy; however, it may be seen in benign conditions - notably inflammation. Also, nuclear atypia in endocrine organs (known as endocrine atypia) is considered normal.

Cancer with no appreciable or minimal nuclear atypia

An incomplete list:

• Low grade papillary urothelial carcinoma.
• Some adenocarcinomas of the upper gastrointestinal tract, e.g. gallbladder adenocarcinoma, stomach adenocarcinoma, ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas.
• Invasive lobular carcinoma.
• Verrucous squamous cell carcinoma.
• Some malignant melanomas.

See also

• Nuclear pleomorphism.
• Reactive atypia.
• Vesicular nuclei.
• Endocrine atypia.