Oncocyte
Appearance
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ad/Renal_oncocytoma2.jpg/220px-Renal_oncocytoma2.jpg)
An oncocyte is an epithelial cell characterized by an excessive number of mitochondria, resulting in an abundant acidophilic, granular cytoplasm. Oncocytes can be benign or malignant.
Other names
Also known as:
- Hürthle cell (thyroid gland only)
- Oxyphilic cell,
- Askanazy cell
- Apocrine metaplasia (breast gland only).
Etymology
Derived from the Greek root onco-, which means mass, bulk.
See also
- Oncocytoma, a tumour composed of oncocytes, may be found as a less common salivary gland neoplasm also known as Oxyphilic Adenoma.
- Renal oncocytoma, a kidney tumour composed of oncocytes.
- Hurthle cell carcinoma, a variant of follicular thyroid carcinoma).