Atypia

Atypia (from Greek, a + typos, without type; a condition of being irregular or nonstandard) 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, and includes abnormalities on larger, histopathologic scales.

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