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pleomorphism
Pleomorphism in a micrograph depicting histopathologic changes found in a Kaposi sarcoma lesion. Pleomorphism is evident in the variations in cellular staining qualities and in the varying sizes of cell nuclei, some of which are atypical and indicative of malignant disease.
pleomorphism
microbiology
- Related Topics:
- polymorphism
- discontinuous variation
pleomorphism, the existence of irregular and variant forms in the same species or strain of microorganisms, a condition analogous to polymorphism in higher organisms. Pleomorphism is particularly prevalent in certain groups of bacteria and in yeasts, rickettsias, and mycoplasmas and greatly complicates the task of identifying and studying them.