Gleason score

Description

A system used to describe the grade of prostate cancer based on how the cancer cells look and behave when viewed under a microscope.

When examined under a microscope, prostate cancer cells can be classified with different grades (from 1 to 5). The pathologist examines a sample of prostate tissue and determines the first and second most common grades in the sample. These grades are added to determine the Gleason score. The prostate cancer is assigned to 1 of 3 risk groups (low, intermediate and high) based on the Gleason score.

Also called Gleason classification or Gleason scale.

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