Oral pathology: Verocay bodies
Verocay bodies are histopathological structures observed in certain peripheral nerve sheath tumors, particularly in schwannomas. Schwannomas are tumors arising from Schwann cells, which are responsible for the production of the myelin sheath around peripheral nerves. Verocay bodies were first described by Enrique Verocay, an Argentine pathologist. Here are key characteristics of Verocay bodies: 1. **Appearance:** - Verocay bodies are alternating hypercellular and hypocellular areas within schwannomas. - They typically appear as palisaded, parallel rows of spindle-shaped cells with elongated nuclei. 2. **Composition:** - Verocay bodies consist of two cellular zones separated by acellular, fibrillary material. - The hypercellular zones contain tightly packed, elongated nuclei of Schwann cells. - The hypocellular zones are characterized by parallel rows of nuclei with a palisading arrangement. 3. **Histological Significance:** - Verocay bodies are considered a character