Atypia

Atypia (from Greek, a + typos, without type; a condition of being irregular or nonstandard)[1] is a histopathologic term for a structural abnormality in a cell, i.e. it is used to describe atypical cells.

Atypia can be caused by infection or irritation. If, for example it were diagnosed in a Pap smear in the uterus it is more likely to be precancerous.

The related concept of dysplasia refers to an abnormality of development,[2] and includes abnormalities on larger, histopathologic scales.

  1. ^ Mosby's Medical Dictionary (8th edition). Elsevier.
  2. ^ "dysplasia" at Dorland's Medical Dictionary
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