Salt-and-pepper chromatin

In pathology, salt-and-pepper chromatin, also salt-and-pepper nuclei and stippled chromatin, refers to cell nuclei that demonstrate granular chromatin (on light microscopy).^[1]

Well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumor with salt-and-pepper chromatin, seen on H&E stain and Pap stain, and actual salt and pepper for comparison.

Salt-and-pepper chromatin is typically seen in endocrine tumours such as medullary thyroid carcinoma, neuroendocrine tumours^[2] and pheochromocytoma.^[3]

Additional images

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  Neuroendocrine tumour of the lung with salt-and-pepper chromatin. H&E stain.
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  Neuroendocrine tumour of the small intestine with salt-and-pepper chromatin. H&E stain.
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  A pheochromocytoma showing finely granular chromatin. H&E stain.
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  Salt-and-pepper chromatin (pheochromocytoma). H&E stain.