Psammoma body

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A psammoma body is a round collection of calcium, seen microscopically. The term is derived from the Greek word psammos meaning "sand."

Psammoma bodies are commonly seen in certain tumors such as:

• papillary thyroid carcinoma
• papillary renal cell carcinoma
• serous papillary ovarian adenocarcinoma (cystadenocarcinoma)
• endometrial adenocarcinomas(Papillary serous carcinoma ~3%-4%)
• meningioma
• mesothelioma

Psammoma bodies usually have a laminar appearance.

The origin of psammoma bodies is controversial, but one theory is that the nidus for their formation is a single necrotic tumor cell, upon which layers upon layers of calcium salt deposits are added.

[edit] External links

Slides:

• Meningioma
• Thyroid cancer
• Endometriosis (peritoneum)
• Video of psammoma bodies in meningioma