Oncocytic mania: a review of oncocytic lesions throughout the body

J Endocrinol Invest. 2011 May;34(5):383-94. doi: 10.1007/BF03347464. Epub 2011 Feb 7.

Abstract

Oncocytic lesions are characterized pathologically by an abundance of oncocytes, that is by enlarged, eosinophilic, and finely granular cells enriched in mitochondria. They can arise in numerous organs and tissues, often in endocrine glands, and have been associated with hyperplasia, autoimmunity, and neoplasia. The causes and mechanisms that transform a normal cell into an oncocyte remain to be elucidated. Aim of this article is to review the most common oncocytic lesions, highlighting their key pathological features and clinical significance.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Hyperplasia / pathology*
  • Mitochondria / pathology
  • Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Oxyphil Cells / pathology*