How to read your pathology report
Tumour type, grade, surgical margin, hormone receptors and HER2. What the terms in the report mean in everyday language.
Why the report is so technical
A pathology report is written for the doctors planning treatment, not for the patient. It contains measurements and classifications rather than explanations. That is why it looks meaningless or frightening when you read it on your own.
The headings below explain what the lines you will most often meet actually mean. Even so, do not try to interpret your own report with them; the result as a whole can paint a different picture from the individual lines.
Line by line
The most common type is invasive ductal carcinoma, followed by invasive lobular carcinoma. The phrase “in situ” means the cells have stayed inside the duct and have not passed into surrounding tissue; that is an early situation.
Describes how much the cells resemble normal tissue, given from 1 to 3. Grade 1 means a slow-moving tumour, grade 3 one that divides faster. It should not be confused with the stage.
The largest diameter of the tumour, in millimetres. The measure used for staging is this pathological one, not the size on imaging.
States whether there are tumour cells at the edge of the removed tissue. “Margin negative”, or “no tumour seen at the margin”, is the result we want. If the margin is positive, further surgery may be needed.
Usually written like “0/3”: none of the three nodes removed is involved. The number of involved nodes is one of the most important headings in deciding the extent of treatment after surgery.
Oestrogen and progesterone receptors. Being positive is good news: it shows the tumour is fed by hormones, and therefore that hormone therapy will work.
A protein on the cell surface. If it is positive the tumour can move faster; on the other hand there are targeted drugs specific to this group, and they have improved outcomes markedly.
Shows the percentage of dividing cells and gives an idea of the tumour’s pace. It is not a value that decides anything on its own; it is read together with the other headings.
What the report does not say
A pathology report is a description, not a prediction. It does not say how long you will live or whether the disease will return. Those answers take shape from the combination of stage, biology, the treatment given and how you respond to it.
You can, but the statistics you find are averages over thousands of patients and do not describe your situation. The same two lines can mean different things in different patients.
Of course. The slides can be reviewed at another centre, and asking for that is your right; we help you prepare what is needed.
Bring your report to the consultation and we will read it line by line together. Leaving without a single line you did not understand is the precondition for planning the next steps together.
The content on this site is for general information and does not replace an examination by a physician. If you have symptoms, please book an appointment.
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