How is Prognosis Determined from Histological Samples?
Prognosis is determined by examining various features of the tissue samples, such as the degree of differentiation, cellular morphology, and the presence of specific markers. Pathologists assess these characteristics to classify the disease and predict its behavior. Common criteria used include: - Grade: The degree of differentiation of the cells, indicating how much the cancer cells resemble normal cells. - Stage: The extent of disease spread, often evaluated using the TNM system (Tumor, Node, Metastasis). - Margins: The presence or absence of cancer cells at the edges of the removed tissue, indicating whether the entire tumor was excised.