Gleason Score – It’s Role In prostate cancer

The prognosis of prostate cancer is based on the results of prostate biopsy. If there are positive results from a digital anal exam or PSA test then the chances of a patient having prostate cancer become bigger. Further tests are then recommended such as biopsy of the prostate.

A biopsy is performed using a thin, long needle which is inserted into the inside of the prostate through the rectum wall. The whole process is checked by ultrasound. The needle takes a tiny piece of prostate tissue from six of the regions from around the prostate gland.

These are the base, top, middle, on each side of the prostate. After this process the the selected tissue samples are studied by cytologist to check for the presence of cancer-infected cells.

Surgeon – cytologist evaluates each one of the two pieces on the Gleason score from 1 to 5 points. This scale is based on certain minute characteristics of carcenogenic cells and reflects the aggressiveness of the cancer.

The Gleason score is also used to appraise the severity of histologic prostate cancer. High values of Gleason score are linked with a poor diagnosis end result. The two most characteristic areas of the biopsy are looked at on a 5 point scale. The resulting structure of these assessments, “Gleason sum” differs from 2 to 10 scores.

The primary application of Gleason score is an evaluation of the risk of death from prostate cancer. As stated , the limit of prostate cancer has a direct result on diagnosis. Up to date studies have shown that patients with a power of 2 – 4 Gleason risk of death within 15 years is low (4 – 7%), whereas when the degree of 8 – 10 on this scale overlap to a high degree of mortality (60 – 87%).

In a conclusion, we will be able to say that Gleason Scale is used to explain malignant cancers detected by a prostate biopsy. The bigger the amount of Gleason score is, the more assertive is the malevolent tissue. The score is worked out on sections of cells of a cancer of the prostate gland.

John Ward is a health writer who has web site on prostate health news. Go visit his site for the ultimate resourse on all things concerning prostate health.

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