Histopathology basics · USMLE Step 1

Which feature on histology would suggest increased proliferative activity in a tissue sample?

  1. Prominent, regular nuclei with uniform chromatin
  2. Very few mitotic figures
  3. Numerous mitotic figures and nuclear pleomorphism
  4. Abundant extracellular matrix and minimal cells
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: Numerous mitotic figures and nuclear pleomorphism

Numerous mitotic figures and pleomorphic nuclei indicate heightened cell proliferation, which may reflect reactive hyperplasia or neoplastic activity depending on context and other features. This helps in grading lesions.

Difficulty: Medium Question 17 of 22

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