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The Azzopardi phenomenon, or Azzopardi effect, is the presence of DNA in necrotic venules. It can occur in small cell carcinomas and in some high-grade malignant neoplasms. The effect is well known in diagnostic surgical pathology. The phenomenon is named after the pathologist, John G. Azzopardi.

Azzopardi was able to correctly characterize the effect as due to DNA; it had been thought previously but incorrectly to be calcium. Necrosis results in the release of cellular DNA, which adheres in patches to the walls of blood vessels, showing as intensely basophilic material on hematoxylin-eosin stain.

References

1. ^ Chan JK (2014). "The wonderful colors of the hematoxylin-eosin stain in diagnostic surgical pathology". Int. J. Surg. Pathol. 22 (1): 12–32. doi:10.1177/1066896913517939. PMID 24406626. S2CID 26847314.
2. Peng SL, Cheng CN, Chang KC (2007). "Burkitt lymphoma with Azzopardi phenomenon". Arch. Pathol. Lab. Med. 131 (5): 682–3. doi:10.5858/2007-131-682-BLWAP. PMID 17488151.
3. Takei H, Adesina AM, Bhattacharjee MB (2007). "The Azzopardi phenomenon". Arch. Pathol. Lab. Med. 131 (4): 518. doi:10.5858/2007-131-518-TAP. PMID 17425376.
4. ^ Pritt BS, Cooper K (2003). "The Azzopardi phenomenon". Arch. Pathol. Lab. Med. 127 (9): 1231. doi:10.5858/2003-127-1231-TAP. PMID 12951999.
5. Vazmitel M, Michal M, Kazakov DV (2007). "Merkel cell carcinoma and Azzopardi phenomenon". Am J Dermatopathol. 29 (3): 314–5. doi:10.1097/DAD.0b013e318033901b. PMID 17519638.
6. Azzopardi JG (1959). "Oat-cell carcinoma of the bronchus". J Pathol Bacteriol. 78 (2): 513–9. doi:10.1002/path.1700780218. PMID 13795444.

External links

• Warnock ML, McCowin MJ in Practical Pathology of Chest Disease--Case Studies
• Azzopardi phenomenon in a metastatic small cell carcinoma of the lung

• Cancer
• Anatomical pathology