nuclear dust
nuclear dust
DermatologyA term of art referring to bits of nuclear debris seen in the stratum corneum in dermatitis herpetiformis.
Pathology
A term of art referring to the abundant basophilic granularity seen in acutely inflamed and necrotic tissue, which corresponds to karyorrhectic nuclear debris from blown-up neutrophils and, if infected, bacteria. Nuclear dust is a characteristic finding in leukocytoclastic vasculitis or a ruptured abscess.
Public health
A term of art referring to radioactive particulate matter that arose from an errant nuclear reactor, which can settle in remote places.
Renal pathology
A term referring to the 1–3 mm fragments of rounded basophilic debris derived from partially degraded hematoxylin bodies, classically seen in focal proliferative glomerulonephritis (class III) lupus nephritis.