What Questions Should be Addressed During Histological Evaluation?
Several critical questions must be addressed during histological evaluation to guide treatment effectively:
What is the diagnosis? Identifying the type and nature of the disease is the first step in guiding treatment. What is the stage and grade of the disease? For cancers, determining the stage (extent of spread) and grade (degree of differentiation) is essential for planning treatment. Are there any specific molecular markers? Identifying markers such as hormone receptors in breast cancer can influence treatment options like targeted therapies. What are the tissue margins? Ensuring clean margins in surgical specimens is important to prevent recurrence. Is there any evidence of metastasis? Detecting spread to lymph nodes or other organs can significantly alter the treatment approach.
