Glechoma hederacea

Gleason Grade is a system used to evaluate the prognosis of men with prostate cancer. It was developed by Donald Floyd Gleason in the 1960s and is now widely used worldwide. The Gleason Grade is based on the microscopic appearance of prostate cancer and is a strong predictor of tumor behavior.

History

The Gleason Grade was developed by pathologist Donald Floyd Gleason in the 1960s as part of a research project for the Veterans Administration. The grading system was initially met with skepticism but has since been validated by numerous studies and is now widely accepted and used worldwide.

Method

The Gleason Grade is determined by the pathologist who examines the prostate tissue under a microscope. The pathologist looks for patterns in the arrangement of the cancer cells and assigns a grade from 1 to 5, with 1 being the least aggressive and 5 being the most aggressive. The grades are then added together to give a Gleason Score.

Gleason Score

The Gleason Score is the sum of the two most common grades in the tumor. The first number represents the most common grade and the second number represents the second most common grade. For example, if the most common grade is 3 and the second most common grade is 4, the Gleason Score would be 7 (3+4). The higher the Gleason Score, the more aggressive the cancer and the worse the prognosis.

Clinical Significance

The Gleason Grade is a strong predictor of tumor behavior and is used to guide treatment decisions. A low Gleason Score indicates a less aggressive tumor that may not require immediate treatment, while a high Gleason Score indicates a more aggressive tumor that may require more aggressive treatment.

See Also

• Prostate cancer
• Prostate-specific antigen
• Prostate biopsy