Acute appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix, a small pouch that hangs off of the beginning of the large intestine. Thus usually occurs due to an obstruction and can become infected.

In this image, the various layers of the appendix can be seen. The purplish haze seen through the appendiceal layers is evidence of the inflammatory cells.

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Cholangiocarcinoma is a cancer of the biliary tree; a system of ducts that carries bile from the liver to the small intestine where it is used to aid in digestion.

In image 2, the ducts, which appear as large circular structures, are disorganized with irregular lumens. The nuclei of their cells, which appear as smaller dark purple structures, show variation in shape and size when in normal ducts they should be the same size and shape. In image 3, the ducts are again disorganized. In this image, mucinous secretions are more evident than in image 2.

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Cholangiocarcinoma is a cancer of the biliary tree; a system of ducts that carries bile from the liver to the small intestine where it is used to aid in digestion.

In image 2, the ducts, which appear as large circular structures, are disorganized with irregular lumens. The nuclei of their cells, which appear as smaller dark purple structures, show variation in shape and size when in normal ducts they should be the same size and shape. In image 3, the ducts are again disorganized. In this image, mucinous secretions are more evident than in image 2.

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Hairy cell leukemia is a cancer of a type of white blood cell called the B-cell. Hairy cell leukemia involves the peripheral blood, bone marrow, liver and spleen.

In this image, near the center of the field, are several cells with round, bland nuclei and abundant pale cytoplasm. Sometimes this cytoplasm can have multiple thin projections, hence the name hairy cell leukemia.

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Amyloid deposits are insoluble collections of misfolded proteins. These misfolded proteins can be involved in a number of disease processes including amyloidosis, Alzheimer’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis and many more.

In this image, the amyloid deposits are highlighted by a special stain called Congo Red which gives them a bright red-orange color under standard microscopy. Under polarized light the amyloid will have an apple-green color.

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