Psammoma body

A psammoma body is a round collection of calcium, seen microscopically. The term is derived .

Cause

Psammoma bodies are associated with the (nipple-like) histomorphology and are thought to arise from,

1. Infarction and calcification of papillae tips.
2. Calcification of intralymphatic tumor thrombi.

Association with lesions

Psammoma bodies are commonly seen in certain tumors such as:

• Papillary thyroid carcinoma
• Papillary renal cell carcinoma
• Ovarian papillary serous cystadenoma and cystadenocarcinoma
• Endometrial adenocarcinomas (papillary serous carcinoma ~3%-4%)
• Meningiomas, in the central nervous system
• Peritoneal and pleural mesothelioma
• Somatostatinoma (pancreas)
• Prolactinoma of the pituitary
• Glucagonoma
• Micropapillary subtype of lung adenocarcinoma

Benign lesions

Psammoma bodies may be seen in:

• Endosalpingiosis
• Psammomatous melanotic schwannoma
• Melanocytic nevus

Appearance

Psammoma bodies usually have a laminar appearance, are circular, acellular and basophilic.

References

External links

Slides:

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