This frustratingly equivocal diagnosis usually means that the pathologist looked at the tissue on the slides and saw cells that were not typical, but they were not abnormal enough to classify as cancer (see “What makes it cancer?”). Sometimes this finding is reported as “suggestive of” or “suspicious for” cancer but not diagnostic of cancer. *Note: Although there are other, rare forms of cancer that can arise in the prostate gland, this article will focus on the most common type, adenocarcinoma.Īn atypical finding means that the pathologist cannot confirm or rule out cancer. If the findings on the pathology report are abnormal, it is likely that the diagnosis will fall into one of three major categories: A thorough reading will give you the information you need to have informed discussions with your urologist, surgeon, and oncologist, and better guide any decisions you need to make about what to do next. It is always a good idea to request a copy of your pathology report. Other articles on this site explain when to get a second opinion about the pathology report and why it is sometimes necessary to have a repeat biopsy, as well as what questions to ask to obtain the information you need to decide which treatment is best for you.
#PATHOLOGY REPORT DEFINITION HOW TO#
In this article you will learn what your pathology report should include and how to make sense of the information it contains. It is entirely possible for two pathologists to look at the same biopsy slides and yet disagree about whether you have cancer! (For more information about this, read the article “Why pathologists may disagree.”) You may also get conflicting interpretations depending on how the report was prepared and who is reading it. They may not be labeled thoroughly or contain enough specifics for you and your doctor to make a good treatment decision.Īt the same time, the information that is included in the report may be difficult to decipher. In fact, they can vary considerably even within a single institution. Pathology reports are not prepared uniformly (compare Figures 3 and 4, below, for example). With that in mind, you might think that preparing and reading a pathology report would be straightforward - but unfortunately the opposite is true. For example, it can provide valuable information about the location and extent of the cancer, thus helping your physician decide whether to recommend active surveillance, hormone treatment, radiation therapy, or surgery. At least initially, the pathology report is one of the most important factors in the management of your prostate health, especially if you have been diagnosed with cancer.
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