Pathology & Biopsy Report Decoder
Medical pathology reports use specialized clinical terminology. Select or search for key terms from your biopsy report below to understand what they mean in plain language.
Clear / Negative Margins
MarginsPlain English
No cancer cells were visible at the outer edge of the surgically removed tissue sample.
Clinical Significance
Suggests the surgeon removed the entire visible tumor with a border of healthy tissue.
Positive Margins
MarginsPlain English
Cancer cells extend directly to the outer edge of the removed tissue sample.
Clinical Significance
Indicates that some cancer cells may remain in the body, which may require further surgery or radiation.
Close Margins
MarginsPlain English
Cancer cells are near the edge of the tissue, but not touching the absolute boundary.
Clinical Significance
The care team will decide if additional treatment is prudent based on the margin width (e.g. < 1mm or 2mm).
High-Grade (Grade 3 / Poorly Differentiated)
Grade & StagePlain English
Cancer cells look very abnormal under the microscope and grow quickly.
Clinical Significance
Higher grade tumors tend to be more aggressive and often require systemic therapy.
Low-Grade (Grade 1 / Well Differentiated)
Grade & StagePlain English
Cancer cells look somewhat similar to healthy normal cells and grow slowly.
Clinical Significance
Lower grade tumors generally carry a less aggressive clinical course.
Ki-67 Index
BiomarkersPlain English
A score showing what percentage of cancer cells are actively dividing and growing.
Clinical Significance
A high Ki-67 percentage (e.g., >30%) indicates rapid cellular proliferation.
HER2 Positive (IHC 3+ / FISH Amplified)
BiomarkersPlain English
The tumor has extra HER2 protein receptors on cell surfaces that accelerate growth.
Clinical Significance
Enables effective treatment with targeted therapies like trastuzumab (Herceptin).
PD-L1 Score
BiomarkersPlain English
A biomarker that shows if cancer cells use a protein screen to hide from immune T-cells.
Clinical Significance
Higher PD-L1 scores often predict better response to immunotherapy drugs.
Lymph-Node Involvement (N1, N2)
Lymph NodesPlain English
Cancer cells were detected inside regional lymph nodes removed during biopsy or surgery.
Clinical Significance
Guides staging and decisions about adjuvant chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
Pathologic Complete Response (pCR)
Grade & StagePlain English
No invasive cancer cells remain visible in tissue removed after preoperative treatment.
Clinical Significance
A very favorable clinical outcome following neoadjuvant chemotherapy.