Starry Sky Pattern

Starry Sky Pattern

Referring to an appearance or pattern by imaging or microscopy that simulates stars on a black sky.
Cytology A term referring to the appearance of washings of normal duodenal epithelium when stained with Diff-Quik, where the predominant cells form the 'sky' and the goblet cells the 'stars'
Haematology A descriptive term for a pattern seen in lymph nodes by low-power light microscopy consisting of multiple holes—’stars’—corresponding to lymphoblasts or phagocytosing histiocytes lying in a sheet of monotonous lymphocytes—’sky’—which is classically seen in Burkitt’s lymphoma, less so in other lymphomas, granulocytic sarcoma, immunoproliferative small intestinal disease (Mediterranean lymphoma), lymphoblastic leukemia, and in benign conditions—e.g., idiopathic thrombocytopaenic purpura and lymphoid hyperplasia
Microbiology The starry sky pattern refers to the cytoplasm of infected epithelial cells with abundant immunostained Chlamydia trachomatis
Nephrology A starry sky pattern may be seen by immunofluorescence in acute post-infectious glomerulonephritis due to the finely granular deposition of C3 and immunoglobulin in the capillary walls and glomerular mesangium
Pathology A starry sky pattern is seen when increased cell proliferation is accompanied by increased apoptosis and/or necrosis; it is classically described in Burkitt’s lymphoma, but the term has also been used for cutaneous angiosarcoma