Grading (tumors)
Grading (tumors)
Grading (tumors) (pronunciation: /ˈɡreɪdɪŋ/ /ˈtjuːmər/) is a system used by medical professionals to classify cancer cells in terms of how abnormal they look under a microscope and how quickly the tumor is likely to grow and spread.
Etymology
The term 'grading' comes from the Latin word 'gradus' which means 'step', indicating a progression. The term 'tumor' is derived from the Latin word 'tumere' which means 'to swell', referring to the swelling that is often (but not always) associated with cancer.
Grading Systems
There are several systems for grading tumors, but the most commonly used are the Gleason system, the Nottingham system, and the Bloom-Richardson system. These systems examine the morphology of the tumor and the degree of differentiation to determine the grade.
- Gleason system: This system is used specifically for prostate cancer. It grades the cancer on a scale from 2 to 10, with 2 being the least aggressive and 10 being the most aggressive.
- Nottingham system: This system is used for breast cancer. It grades the cancer on a scale from 1 to 3, with 1 being the least aggressive and 3 being the most aggressive.
- Bloom-Richardson system: This system is also used for breast cancer. It grades the cancer on a scale from 1 to 3, with 1 being the least aggressive and 3 being the most aggressive.
Related Terms
- Staging (cancer): This is another system used to classify cancer. While grading looks at the cells themselves, staging looks at the extent of the cancer in the body.
- Biopsy: This is the procedure used to obtain the cells for grading.
- Pathology: This is the study of disease and is the field of medicine that grading falls under.
- Oncology: This is the study of cancer. Oncologists often use the grade of a tumor to help determine treatment options.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Grading (tumors)
- Wikipedia's article - Grading (tumors)
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