Metaplasia
Change from one fully differentiated cell type to another
- Can become dysplastic if the agent that caused the metaplasia persists
- Can be misdiagnosed clinically
Classification
- Epithelial
- Squamous - endocervix, bronchi, bladder, prostate
- Glandular or columnar cell: intestinal with h.pylori; gastric with barrett's oesophagus
- Connective tissue
- Osseous metaplasia (formation of metaplastic bone) in bladder, bronchus
- Chondroid metaplasia (formation of metaplastic cartilage) in scars
- Myeloid metaplasia (formation of metaplastic bone marrow) - liver, spleen, lymph nodes