What is A gemistocyte?

A gemistocyte (/dʒɛˈmɪstəsaɪt/ jem-ISS-tə-syte; from Greek γέμιζω (gemizo), meaning ‘to fill up’) is a swollen, reactive astrocyte. These cells usually appear during acute injury; after that, they gradually shrink in size.

Do gemistocytes and giant cells indicate malignancy?

Gemistocytes are biologically harmless and would presumably be the losers in an intense competition for the substrates needed for cell proliferation. Consequently, they may reflect considerable proliferative activity in adjacent neoplastic cells; and, if gemistocytes and giant cells indicate malignancy, they do so secondarily.

Are gemistocytes reactive astrocytes?

Gemistocytes are cells swollen with hyaline, pink cytoplasm that is reactive for GFAP (Fig. 20.15 A; see Table 20.5 ). Their hyperchromatic and angulated nuclei are at the rim of the cells, producing a bizarre caricature of a reactive astrocyte.

Are there scattered foci of labeled gemistocytes in autopsies?

In autopsy specimens, there were scattered foci of labeled gemistocytes despite a sharp fall in the overall labeling index by comparison with biopsy specimens from the same patient.

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Can gemistocytes dedifferentiate to glioma?

In the context of cancer (gemistocytic astrocytomas), gemistocytes are known to dedifferentiate to a high grade (III or IV) glioma (i.e. glioblastoma multiforme) at a rapid pace, usually indicative of a poor prognosis . ^ “gemistocyte”. Adventures in Neuropathology. Retrieved 2020-07-27.

How long does it take for gemistocytes to change form and activity?

This change in form and mitotic activity could have occurred within as little time as 3 weeks, since labeled gemistocytes were observed in the autopsy specimens of a tumor that received [ 3 H]TdR only 3 weeks prior to death of the patient.