Evaluation of suspected malignancies: Difference between revisions
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
m Table |
Expanded |
||
| Line 4: | Line 4: | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{General notes}} | {{General notes}} | ||
== | The most important aspects of a tumor is whether it is malignant or not, and staging. | ||
==Staging== | |||
The primary focus of tumor evaluation is to distinguish benign from malignant types, and in case of malignancy the primary focus is to determine its stage, generally by the TNM classification:<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/detection/staging |title=Cancer staging |date= |publisher=National Cancer Institute |accessdate=4 January 2013}}</ref> | The primary focus of tumor evaluation is to distinguish benign from malignant types, and in case of malignancy the primary focus is to determine its stage, generally by the TNM classification:<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/detection/staging |title=Cancer staging |date= |publisher=National Cancer Institute |accessdate=4 January 2013}}</ref> | ||
{|class="wikitable" | {|class="wikitable" | ||
| Line 23: | Line 25: | ||
** M1: metastasis to distant organs (beyond regional lymph nodes) | ** M1: metastasis to distant organs (beyond regional lymph nodes) | ||
|} | |} | ||
Beyond | |||
===Typing and grading=== | |||
Beyond determining overall malignancy and staging, classification of tumors into a specific histopathologic type or grade is of relatively less value. In cases of clearly non-malignant tumors where it is difficult to determine the specific histopathologic type or grade, it is generally acceptable to conclude the evaluation and report it as such, unless the clinician specifically requests otherwise. For potentially malignant or high-risk tumors, typing and grading often still affects the management. | |||
{{Bottom}} | {{Bottom}} | ||