Dictyocytoma

Dictyocytoma is a rare benign tumor that develops from follicular dendritic cells. These cells play an important role in the immune response by helping B lymphocytes recognize foreign antigens.

Dictyocytoma most often occurs in the lymph nodes, especially the cervical ones. The tumor grows slowly, usually causing no symptoms. During biopsy, large cells with multiple processes of the cytoplasm are found in fingerprint smears. These processes resemble a network (dictyo - mesh), hence the name of the tumor.

Treatment for dictyocytoma involves surgical removal. The prognosis is favorable, relapses after removal are rare. Sometimes dictyocytoma is confused with other tumors of the lymphatic tissue, so careful morphological verification of the diagnosis is important.

Dictyocytes are tumor cells that have many flagella on their surface, with the help of which they, when moving, capture foreign particles (bacteria, red blood cells), with which they move through the bloodstream. Not only single forms are observed in certain areas of the skin and mucous membranes (ulcers, blisters), but also diffuse conglomerates that resemble the more typical picture of lupus erythematosus, and lesions diffusely delimited from surrounding tissues - as in blood diseases. In the initial stages, the affected areas are reddish in color, becoming more noticeable when enlarged in the later stages of the disease.

Dictyocytomas are relatively rare. Favorite places are the mucous membranes of the oral cavity, lips, face. Rare, but almost symmetrical lesions of the mucous membranes occur with glossitis and gingivitis - these are the so-called chalky (whitish-yellow) lesions. Lesions may