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CancerQuest > Introduction to Patient Information > Introduction to Cancer by Type > Gastric Cancer: Introduction > Gastric Cancer: The Pathology Report and Staging

Gastric Cancer: The Pathology Report and Staging

The Pathology Report

If there is suspicion that a patient may have gastric cancer, a sample of tissue (biopsy) may be taken for examination. After a biopsy is taken, the physician who performed the biopsy sends the specimen to a pathologist. The pathologist examines the specimen at both the macroscopic (visible with the naked eye) and microscopic (requiring magnification) levels and then sends a pathology report to the physician. The report contains information about the tissue's appearance, cellular make up, and state of disease or normalcy.

View more information about pathology reports.

Staging

Staging a cancer is a way of describing the extent of the disease. One of the most common methods used for cancer staging is called the T/N/M system. This system assigns a degree of severity based on the size, location, and spread of cancer in the body. Two important factors influencing survival for gastric cancer patients are depth of invasion through the gastric wall and the number of lymph nodes involved.⁽¹⁾

Learn more about cancer staging and the TNM system.

References for this page:

1. Layke JC, Lopez PP. "Gastric cancer: diagnosis and treatment options." Am Fam Physician. 2004 Mar 1;69(5):1133-40. [PUBMED]