how to tell a patient about a good pathology report to patient

Start by studying your pathology report closely. Circle anything that doesn’t make sense to you. Let your doctor know how much you know, and ask questions until you are satisfied that you understand the report and both the pathologist’s and your physician’s thinking. In particular, look for information about the location and extent of your cancer.

Full Answer

What do you need to know about a pathology report?

Reading a Pathology Report. A pathology report is a medical document written by a pathologist. A pathologist is a doctor who diagnoses disease by: The report gives a diagnosis based on the pathologist’s examination of a sample of tissue taken from the patient’s tumor. This sample of tissue, called a specimen, is removed during a biopsy.

How do you read a pathology report for a tumor?

Reading a Pathology Report. A cancerous tumor is malignant, meaning it can grow and spread to other parts of the body. A noncancerous, or benign tumor, means the tumor can grow but will not spread. Other specific details about the tumor’s features. This information helps your doctor figure out the best treatment options.

Why get a copy of the surgical pathology report?

Getting a copy of the surgical pathology report is one of those steps. This report is generated after a surgery to remove GIST tumors and contains crucial information regarding diagnosis and key factors for calculating risk of recurrence.

What does a pathologist look for when diagnosing cancer?

The pathologist will also note whether the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes or other organs. Lymph nodes are tiny, bean-shaped organs that help fight disease. A lymph node is called “positive” when it contains cancer and “negative” when it does not. A tumor that has grown into blood or lymph vessels is more likely to have spread elsewhere.

What does a positive pathology report mean?

A “positive” or “involved” margin means there are cancer cells in the margin. This means that it is likely that cancerous cells are still in the body. Lymph nodes. The pathologist will also note whether the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes or other organs.

How do I write a pathology report?

Components of a pathology reportYour name and your individual identifiers. ... A case number. ... The date and type of procedure by which the specimen was obtained (for instance, a blood sample, surgery, or biopsy)Your medical history and current clinical diagnosis.A general description of the specimen received in the lab.More items...

What is a pathology review?

Purpose: Pathology review is performed for patients when care is transferred to a tertiary care center after diagnostic tissue has been obtained.

What is clinical information on a pathology report?

Clinical information This may include a medical history and special requests made to the pathologist. For example, if a lymph node sample is being removed from a patient known to have cancer in another organ, the doctor will note the type of the original cancer.

What is a preliminary pathology report?

A pathology report is a medical document that gives information about a diagnosis, such as cancer. To test for the disease, a sample of your suspicious tissue is sent to a lab. A doctor called a pathologist studies it under a microscope. They may also do tests to get more information.

Can pathology reports be wrong?

The reported frequency of anatomic pathologic errors ranges from 1% to 43% of all specimens, regardless of origin and disease, he said. The error rate for oncology is 1% to 5%.

Who can interpret pathology results?

Interpreting pathology test results The treating practitioner is the most appropriate and qualified person to explain and discuss pathology test results. This is because tests represent just one of the many factors that are considered in reaching a diagnosis and planning treatment.

How do you describe lesions in pathology?

lesion, in physiology, a structural or biochemical change in an organ or tissue produced by disease processes or a wound.

What are the 4 types of pathology?

The American Osteopathic Board of Pathology also recognizes four primary specialties: anatomic pathology, dermatopathology, forensic pathology, and laboratory medicine. Pathologists may pursue specialised fellowship training within one or more subspecialties of either anatomical or clinical pathology.

Why is it important to document any instructions provided to the patient?

The physician uses the information in the medical record as a basis for making decisions regarding the patient's care and treatment; it serves to document the results of treatment and the patient's progress and provides an efficient and effective method by which information can be communicated to authorized personnel ...

What does final diagnosis mean?

A final diagnosis that is made after getting the results of tests, such as blood tests and biopsies, that are done to find out if a certain disease or condition is present.

Is a negative biopsy good?

Although tests aren't 100% accurate all the time, receiving a wrong answer from a cancer biopsy – called a false positive or a false negative – can be especially distressing. While data are limited, an incorrect biopsy result generally is thought to occur in 1 to 2% of surgical pathology cases.

How to tell if a biopsy is cancerous?

This is known as histologic (tissue) examination and is usually the best way to tell if cancer is present. The pathologist may also examine cytologic (cell) material.

What is the procedure to cut tissue into thin sections?

The tissue removed during a biopsy or surgery must be cut into thin sections, placed on slides, and stained with dyes before it can be examined under a microscope. Two methods are used to make the tissue firm enough to cut into thin sections: frozen sections and paraffin-embedded (permanent) sections.

What is an IHC report?

For example, the pathology report may include information obtained from immunochemical stains (IHC). IHC uses antibodies to identify specific antigens on the surface of cancer cells. IHC can often be used to: Determine where the cancer started.

How are tissue samples prepared?

All tissue samples are prepared as permanent sections, but sometimes frozen sections are also prepared. Permanent sections are prepared by placing the tissue in fixative (usually formalin) to preserve the tissue, processing it through additional solutions, and then placing it in paraffin wax.

How long does it take for a pathologist to send a report?

The pathologist sends a pathology report to the doctor within 10 days after the biopsy or surgery is performed. Pathology reports are written in technical medical language. Patients may want to ask their doctors to give them a copy of the pathology report and to explain the report to them. Patients also may wish to keep a copy ...

What is the procedure to remove tissue under a microscope?

In most cases, a doctor needs to do a biopsy or surgery to remove cells or tissues for examination under a microscope. Some common ways a biopsy can be done are as follows: A needle is used to withdraw tissue or fluid.

What is the purpose of endoscope?

An endoscope (a thin, lighted tube) is used to look at areas inside the body and remove cells or tissues. Surgery is used to remove part of the tumor or the entire tumor. If the entire tumor is removed, typically some normal tissue around the tumor is also removed. Tissue removed during a biopsy is sent to a pathology laboratory, ...

Why is it important to keep a pathology report?

Copies of any pathology reports are very important to keep, as your diagnosis and treatment are often based on them. Further, understanding the report will help you and your medical provider (and any future medical providers) better understand your condition.

What is a pathology report?

A pathology report is a medical report about a piece of tissue, blood, or body organ that has been removed from your body. The specimen is analyzed by a pathologist, who then writes up a report for the medical provider who has either ordered the report or performed the procedure.

What is the bottom line of a pathologist's diagnosis?

A detailed description of what the pathologist sees during microscopic exam of the specimen. The final diagnosis, which is the "bottom line" of the testing process. Your medical provider relies on the final diagnosis to help choose the best treatment choices. The name and signature of the pathologist, as well as the name and address ...

What is the name of the doctor who examines tissue to determine if cancer is present?

To diagnose diseases such as cancer, a sample of tissue called a biopsy is taken from a patient and examined by a pathologist to determine if cancer is present. A pathologist is a medical doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and classification of diseases by looking at tissue or cells under a microscope and by interpreting medical laboratory ...

What is the doctor who examines specimens removed during surgery?

The pathologist is also the doctor who examines specimens removed during surgery (resections) for conditions such as cancer, to determine whether a tumor is benign or cancerous, and if cancerous, the exact cell type, grade, and stage of the tumor. In some cases, the pathologist also performs molecular biomarker analysis ...

What is clinical information?

Clinical Information. Your treating physician may include clinical history that is relevant to the tissue that the pathologist is examining. This may include diagnosis, the nature of the disease, or other diseases that should be of concern.

What is the most common IHC stain for GIST?

For GIST, the most common IHC stains are C-Kit (CD117), CD34, and DOG1. Positive results for these proteins indicates the diagnosis of GIST. These results may be on a separate report, but are still a major factor in diagnosis.

What is pathology report?

Pathology reports are written by pathologists (doctors who study the cause and effects of diseases) and identify the diagnosis based on their examination of the tissue sample from a surgery. The majority of pathology reports begin with a similar setup – hospital information on top followed by the patient’s information.

What is the key to understanding GIST?

Your Pathology Report: the Key to Understanding Your GIST. After the diagnosis of GIST, a patient should take important steps to learn more about their particular disease so that they may find optimal care and treatment. This can be a very challenging and sometimes overwhelming task. Getting a copy of the surgical pathology report is one ...

What are the factors that determine the risk of recurrence?

Some nomograms consider other factors such as tumor rupture, surgical margins, and mutation. It is important to find the best nomogram to use based on the information provided on the pathology report.

What is the microscopic description of a tumor?

The microscopic description is what is seen when the pathologist looks at the tissue under the microscope. This includes the types of cells and their condition (i.e. hemorrhagic). An important part in this section is the mitotic rate, or the measurement of cellular proliferation or cell division. This number helps determine how fast a tumor is growing and is one of the most import factors to consider when calculating risk of recurrence.

What is gross description?

The gross description describes the tissue sample’s physical description when the pathologist receives it in the laboratory from surgery. This section may contain many medical words, however the key parts to look for are the size of the tumor and the tumor location. These factors are used when calculating your risk of recurrence.

What is a pathology report?

Stages of Cancer . A pathology report is a medical document that gives information about a diagnosis, such as cancer. To test for the disease, a sample of your suspicious tissue is sent to a lab. A doctor called a pathologist studies it under a microscope. They may also do tests to get more information.

What does grade mean in cancer?

Grade: The pathologist compares the cancer cells to healthy cells. There are different scales for specific cancers. A tumor grade reflects how likely it is to grow and spread. In general, this is what those grades mean: Grade 1: Low grade, or well-differentiated: The cells look a little different than regular cells.

How to grade a tumor?

Grade: The pathologist compares the cancer cells to healthy cells. There are different scales for specific cancers. A tumor grade reflects how likely it is to grow and spread. In general, this is what those grades mean: 1 Grade 1: Low grade, or well-differentiated: The cells look a little different than regular cells. They aren’t growing quickly. 2 Grade 2: Moderate grade, or moderately differentiated: They don’t look like normal cells. They’re growing faster than normal. 3 Grade 3: High grade, or poorly differentiated: The cells look very different than normal cells. They’re growing or spreading fast.

What is the identifying information on a blood test?

Identifying information: This has your name, birth date, and medical record number. It also lists contact information for your doctor, the pathologist and lab where the sample was tested.

What is the mitotic rate of cancer?

They’re positive if they have cancer and negative if they don’t. Mitotic rate: This is a measure of how quickly cancerous cells are dividing. To get this number, the pathologist usually counts the number of dividing cells in a certain amount of tissue. The mitotic rate is often used to find what stage the cancer is in.

What is metastatic cancer?

Cancers that spread are called invasive. Metastatic cancer is when the disease spreads to another part of the body from where it started.

What is the procedure called when a patient's tissue is removed?

Many standardized procedures are performed before a diagnosis can be rendered. After the patient’s tissue sample is collected during either a biopsy or excision (the surgical removal of tissue), the pathologist conducts what’s known as a gross examination, performed with the naked eye, rather than under a microscope.

What is a tumor that lines a surface such as the skin or the GI tract called?

Tan. “A tumor that lines a surface, such as the skin or the GI tract, is carcinoma ,” he explains. “If the tumor originates from soft tissue like muscle, it’s sarcoma.

What is the role of a pathologist in cancer?

The pathologist is a medical doctor specializing in diagnosing disease by examining organs, tissues, cells and bodily fluids.

Why are sectioned samples preserved?

The sectioned samples are preserved for future testing, which may be necessary if medical advancements lead to the discovery of a new tumor marker or a new treatment, for example, or if a duplicate slide is needed for the patient to use in seeking a second opinion.

What are the observations of a gross examination?

Observations noted in the gross examination include the sample’s appearance and characteristics, such as size (typically documented in centimeters), texture (whether it is hard or soft, smooth or lumpy) and color. Gross examinations help determine accurate diagnoses because certain tumors have specific characteristics.

Should I get a second opinion on a cancer diagnosis?

When reading a pathology report, Dr. Tan suggests paying close attention to the tumor type, grade and stage, and he recommends getting a second opinion if you’ve been diagnosed with cancer. “It’s always better to have a second pathologist review the diagnosis,” he says.

How to understand pathology report?

Start by studying your pathology report closely. Circle anything that doesn’t make sense to you. Let your doctor know how much you know, and ask questions until you are satisfied that you understand the report and both the pathologist’s and your physician’s thinking.

Why do pathology reports vary?

It should be clear by now that pathology reports vary in large part because the clinical features they analyze often require some subjective interpretation. This means it’s important to question the findings and make sure you understand them before you make any decisions about treatment.

What are the risks of prostate cancer in black men?

Black men are at an increased risk of prostate cancer. 12. Prostate cancer patients are at an increased risk for fatigue, depression, suicide and heart attacks. 13. Depression in prostate cancer patients is about 27% at 5 years, for advanced prostate cancer patient’s depression is even higher.

Can a high PSA result be sent to a urologist?

Men with a high PSA tests result are often sent to an urologist for a blind biopsy. Men should be told about other options: Percent free PSA test, 4Kscore test, PCA3 urine test or a MRI test before receiving a blind biopsy. These tests can often or always eliminate the need for a more risky and invasive blind biopsy.

What questions should I ask my doctor about cancer?

If you’re still unclear about the data in your pathology report, consider asking your doctor the following questions: 1 What type of cancer have I been diagnosed with, and where did it start? 2 How large is the tumor? 3 Is the cancer invasive or noninvasive? 4 How fast are the cancer cells growing? 5 What is the grade of the cancer? What does this mean? 6 Has the whole cancer been removed, or is there evidence of cancerous cells at the edges of the sample? 7 Are there cancerous cells in the lymph or blood vessels? 8 What is the stage of the cancer? What does this mean? 9 Does the pathology report specify the tumor characteristics clearly, or should we get another pathologist’s opinion? 10 Do any tests need to be repeated on another sample or in another laboratory?

What is the process of taking suspicious tissue and studying it under a microscope?

A cancer diagnosis starts with a biopsy - the process of taking suspicious tissue or fluid and studying it under a microscope. A pathologist examines the tissue or fluid and prepares a pathology report. Think of this report as a cancer profile.