metaplasia
[met″ah-pla´zhah] the change in the type of adult cells in a tissue to a form abnormal for that tissue. adj., adj metaplas´tic.
myeloid metaplasia the occurrence of myeloid tissue in extramedullary sites; specifically, a syndrome characterized by splenomegaly, anemia, nucleated erythrocytes and immature granulocytes in the circulating blood, and extramedullary hematopoiesis in the liver and spleen. The primary form is called agnogenic myeloid metaplasia. The secondary or symptomatic form may be associated with various diseases, including carcinomatosis, tuberculosis, leukemia, and polycythemia vera.
Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. © 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.
met·a·pla·si·a
(met'ă-plā'zē-ă), Abnormal transformation of an adult, fully differentiated tissue of one kind into a differentiated tissue of another kind; an acquired condition, in contrast to heteroplasia.
[G. metaplasis, transformation]
Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
metaplasia
(mĕt′ə-plā′zhə)n.1. Normal transformation of tissue from one type to another, as in the ossification of cartilage to form bone.
2. Transformation of cells from a normal to an abnormal state.
met′a·plas′tic (-plăs′tĭk) adj.
The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2007, 2004 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
metaplasia
The conversion of one type of adult tissue and/or cells—most commonly epithelia—into another; e.g., squamous metaplasia, in which non-keratinised squamous epithelium replaces ciliated columnar cells in the bronchi of smokers.
Metaplasia types
• Intestinal metaplasia—occurs in the stomach, especially in stomachs that later develop adenocarcinoma.
• Paneth cell metaplasia and enterochromaffin cell metaplasia—occur in the gallbladder, and are associated with adenocarcinoma of same.
• Squamous metaplasia—the transformation of glandular or ciliated epithelium to stratified sqamous epithelium. In SM of the upper respiratory tract, squamous epithelium replaces ciliated columnar epithelium; this event, particularly common in smokers, feeds the controversy that this metaplasia may represent a dysplastic process with premalignant potential. Squamous metaplasia of the endocervix is not associated with malignancy.
• Tubal metaplasia of the endometrium—i.e., replacement of the normal endometrial glands with ciliated (fallopian) tubal cells—may occur in endometrial polyps, mild adenomatous hyperplasia and in senile endometrium, but is rarely (and then only coincidentally) associated with malignancy.Segen's Medical Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.
met·a·pla·si·a
(met'ă-plā'zē-ă) Abnormal transformation of an adult, fully differentiated tissue of one kind into a differentiated tissue of another kind; an acquired condition, in contrast to heteroplasia.
[G. metaplasis, transformation]
Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing © Farlex 2012
metaplasia
An abnormal change in the character or structure of a tissue as a result of changes in the constituent cells. Metaplasia often involves a change of cells to a less specialized form and may be a prelude to cancer.Collins Dictionary of Medicine © Robert M. Youngson 2004, 2005
metaplasia
the transformation of a tissue to another form.Collins Dictionary of Biology, 3rd ed. © W. G. Hale, V. A. Saunders, J. P. Margham 2005
met·a·pla·si·a
(met'ă-plā'zē-ă) Abnormal transformation of an adult, fully differentiated tissue of one kind into a differentiated tissue of another kind; an acquired condition, in contrast to heteroplasia.
[G. metaplasis, transformation]
Medical Dictionary for the Dental Professions © Farlex 2012
Patient discussion about metaplasia
Q. what is metaplasia i had 2 surgeries in my left breast for some cyst they found metaplasia in the biopsy
A. from what i remember while reading on the subject- cells can go through different changes. one of them is metaplasia- change of form. our body is amazingly flexible, and under stress cells can change form and function. like if you have continues heartburns, cells in your esophagus will change to cells similar to the stomach and start excreting anti acid materials. finding that on a biopsy means the cells in the cyst changed function.
Q. what is fragments of endocervical glandular mucosa with inflammation and squamous metaplasia fragments of endocervical glandular mucosa
A. It means that part of the mucose on the cervix area has changes from a certain kind of mucose cells to another, and that there is a bit of an inflammation around it. This should be brought to the knowledge of a gynecologist and be monitored by him/her.
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