Verocay Body
Pronunciation: veh-ROH-kay
A palisaded nuclear arrangement seen histologically in schwannomas, consisting of two rows of aligned nuclei separated by a central acellular eosinophilic zone, used as a diagnostic marker in oral and soft-tissue pathology reports.
Full Definition
Verocay bodies are characteristic microscopic structures found in the Antoni A regions of schwannomas (neurilemmomas). They consist of two parallel rows of palisaded Schwann cell nuclei flanking an anuclear, fibrillary eosinophilic zone. Their identification in a pathology report of an oral or jaw lesion supports the diagnosis of schwannoma and helps distinguish it from neurofibroma, which does not form Verocay bodies. Editors reviewing oral pathology reports should retain this diagnostic term accurately and not paraphrase it, as its presence or absence carries direct diagnostic weight.
Usage
Usage note: Capitalise 'Verocay' as an eponym. Do not paraphrase as 'nuclear palisading' alone, since that broader term does not carry the specificity of a true Verocay body.
In Context
- "Histological sections revealed Antoni A areas with well-formed Verocay bodies, confirming the diagnosis of oral schwannoma." — Surgical pathology report
- "The editor queried the author's description of 'nuclear palisading' and asked whether Verocay bodies were specifically identified, as this distinction differentiates schwannoma from neurofibroma." — Manuscript peer-review correspondence