Histology
Also known as: histopathology
The microscopic study of tissue to identify cancer type and features.
Definition
Histology is the study of tissue under the microscope. After a biopsy or surgical specimen reaches the laboratory, the pathologist processes it into thin slices, stains them, and examines the architecture and the individual cells.
The histology report tells the oncology team exactly what kind of cancer it is (for example adenocarcinoma versus squamous cell carcinoma), its grade, its differentiation, whether it has reached the surgical margins, and whether lymph nodes are involved. Additional IHC and molecular tests may be added.
See also
- Biopsy — A small sample of tissue taken from the body and examined under a microscope.
- Immunohistochemistry (IHC) — A laboratory test that uses antibodies to detect specific proteins in tumour tissue.
- Grade — A score from the pathologist describing how abnormal the cancer cells look under the microscope.
- Margin — The rim of normal-looking tissue around a tumour after it is surgically removed.
- Differentiation — How closely cancer cells resemble normal, mature cells of the tissue they came from.
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Medically reviewed by
Dr. Rehan Abdullah
Dr. Rehan Abdullah is a dual-trained clinical and radiation oncologist with over a decade of experience treating both solid tumours and hematologic malignancies. He serves as Consultant Oncologist at INMOL Hospital and sees patients at Farooq Hospital and Healthnox Medical Center, Lahore. Read full profile →
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