Gleason score

A malignant (cancerous) tissue specimen is assigned a Gleason score—the most important factor in predicting the state of the disease and the probable outcome. The Gleason score is the sum of the grades of the two most prevalent malignancy patterns in the specimen. Assigned by the pathologist, these grades characterize the tumor and describe how closely the malignant cells resemble the normal ones. Grades range from 1 to 5, with 1 being the closest to normal and having the least potential to spread. A Gleason score of 7 results from a grade of 3 for the predominant pattern of cancer cells and a grade of 4 for the secondary one. You may also find the percentage of each grade in your pathology report, but the Gleason score is the most commonly reported.

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