spider cell

spi·der cell

1. Synonym(s): astrocyte

2. a cell in a rhabdomyoma of the heart, with central nucleus and cytoplasmic mass connected to the cell wall by strands of cytoplasm separated by clear glycogen-filled areas.

Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

Cytology A rare variant epithelial cell seen in cervical metaplasia in pap smears, which is morphologically similar to those described in rhabdomyomas and ‘sugar’ tumours
Heart pathology A classic cell thought to represent degenerating rhabdomyocytes, which is pathognomonic for rhabdomyomas. Here, the nucleus is centrally placed with eosinophilic septae which stain with ubiquitin, stretching from the cell membrane to the nucleus
Liver pathology A descriptive term for Kupffer cells 'decorated' by vimentin on direct smears of fine-needle aspiration biopsies from primary and metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer). Spider cells have multiple elongated, slender cytoplasmic processes similar to dendritic cells and are found within tumour clusters
Neuropathology A popular term for astrocyte, a neuroglial support cell in the central nervous system
Surgical pathology A term of art for a variably-sized undifferentiated mesenchymal cell with a small central, acidophilic, stellate nucleus surrounded by vacuolated cytoplasm and connected by thin fibrous striations to the peripherally located cell membrane. Spider cells are typical of myxomas, and myxoid liposarcoma

Segen's Medical Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.