Squamous metaplasia

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Micrograph showing squamous metaplasia (centre of image) in an atypical polypoid adenomyoma. H&E stain Atypical polypoid adenomyoma - very high mag.jpg
Micrograph showing squamous metaplasia (centre of image) in an atypical polypoid adenomyoma. H&E stain

Squamous metaplasia is a benign non-cancerous change (metaplasia) of surfacing lining cells (epithelium) to a squamous morphology.

Contents

Location

Common sites for squamous metaplasia include the bladder and cervix. Smokers often exhibit squamous metaplasia in the linings of their airways. These changes don't signify a specific disease, but rather usually represent the body's response to stress or irritation. Vitamin A deficiency or overdose can also lead to squamous metaplasia. [1]

Uterine cervix

In regard to the cervix, squamous metaplasia can sometimes be found in the endocervix, as it is composed of simple columnar epithelium, whereas the ectocervix is composed of stratified squamous non-keratinized epithelium. [2]

Significance

Squamous metaplasia may be seen in the context of benign lesions (e.g., atypical polypoid adenomyoma), chronic irritation, or cancer (e.g., endometrioid endometrial carcinoma), as well as pleomorphic adenoma.

See also

References

  1. Goralczyk R (2009). "β-Carotene and Lung Cancer in Smokers: Review of Hypotheses and Status of Research". Nutrition and Cancer. 61 (6): 767–774. doi:10.1080/01635580903285155. PMID   20155614.
  2. Kumar V, Abbas AK, Fausto N, Mitchell RN. Robbins Basic Pathology (8th ed.). Saunders Elsevier. pp. 716–720. ISBN   978-1-4160-2973-1.