OncologyIstanbul™
Guides · Diagnostics

How to read your pathology report: a plain-language guide

Reviewed by Prof. Dr. Leyla Arslan
08 Jun 2026 · 7 min

The pathology report is the single most important document in your file — it decides the treatment plan more than any scan. It is also written for other doctors, not for you. This guide translates the five lines that matter, so the conversation about your plan happens with you, not over your head.

The five lines that matter

Find these on your report — they may be in Russian, Uzbek or Azerbaijani, the structure is identical everywhere:

01 · Histologic type — what kind of cells. “Invasive ductal carcinoma” is the most common breast type; rare types change the plan.
02 · Grade (G1–G3) — how aggressive the cells look. Not the same as stage.
03 · Receptors (ER / PR / HER2) — the switches treatment can use. These three results choose between hormone therapy, targeted therapy and chemotherapy.
04 · Ki-67 — how fast cells divide, in percent. Context matters; a single number is never a verdict.
05 · Margins & nodes — after surgery: was everything removed (“R0”), and how many lymph nodes are involved.
Grade ≠ Stage
Grade describes cells under the microscope (G1–G3). Stage describes spread in the body (I–IV) and comes from imaging. A G3 tumor can be stage I — aggressive cells, caught early.
G1–G3
microscope
I–IV
imaging
A real (anonymized) report with the five lines highlighted. Figure: OncologyIstanbul editorial.

“Half of the second opinions we issue change the plan not because the first doctor was wrong, but because the receptor panel was incomplete. Ask for all three receptors, always.”

— Prof. Dr. Leyla Arslan, medical oncology

What to do with it

Photograph every page, including the header with the lab's name. If a receptor or Ki-67 line is missing, the block (the tissue sample) can be re-tested — you do not need a new biopsy for that in most cases. Then get a second pair of eyes on it: pathology re-review is the highest-value, lowest-effort check in oncology.

Send a photo of your report.
Free 72h review

Fair questions

No. Our reviewing physicians read Russian-language reports directly; Uzbek and Azerbaijani documents are handled by the coordination team the same day.
Every cancer case is individual. Assessments are based on the reports you provide and do not replace in-person examination.
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