What is tumor grade?

Tumor grade is a description of how abnormal the cancer cells look under a microscope, based on the pathologist's examination of stained tissue. It is part of the microscopic description in a pathology report.

Grade is different from stage. Stage describes the extent of the cancer in the body (such as tumor size and whether it has spread), while grade describes how the cells themselves appear. Both are used, along with other findings, to understand a cancer and plan treatment.

Your healthcare team is the best source of information about your tumor's grade and what it means for your care.