The importance of histopathological evaluation in cancer diagnosis and treatment
Keywords:
Histopathology, cancer diagnosis, tumor grading, biomarkers, treatment response, oncology researchAbstract
Background: Histopathological evaluation is a cornerstone in cancer diagnosis and treatment, providing critical insights into tumor biology, grading, and staging. Accurate histopathology informs clinical decision-making, ensuring tailored therapeutic approaches. Aim: This article aims to elucidate the importance of histopathological examination in diagnosing cancer, guiding treatment decisions, monitoring responses, and contributing to research advancements. Methods: A comprehensive review of literature was conducted, including prospective and retrospective studies that assess the value of histopathological examination in cancer diagnosis and treatment. Results: Histopathological analysis accurately identifies malignancies, guides tumor grading and staging, and detects biomarkers that influence treatment. It also facilitates monitoring of treatment responses and disease progression. Furthermore, it plays a vital role in cancer research and clinical trials, contributing to the development of novel therapies. Conclusion: Histopathological evaluation is indispensable for effective cancer management, ensuring precise diagnoses, appropriate treatments, and improved patient outcomes. Enhanced collaboration between pathologists and clinicians is essential for optimizing cancer care.
Downloads
References
Kamstock DA, Russell DS, Powers BE. The pathology of neoplasia. In: MacEwen EG, Withrow SJ, editors. Withrow and MacEwen’s Small Animal Clinical Oncology. 6th ed. St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier; 2020. pp. 61–80. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-59496-7.00003-7
Northrup NC, Harmon BG, Gieger TL, et al. Variation among pathologists in histologic grading of canine cutaneous mast cell tumors. J Vet Diagn Invest. 2005;17:245–248. doi: 10.1177/104063870501700305. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/104063870501700305
Wobeser BK, Kidney BA, Powers BE, et al. Agreement among surgical pathologists evaluating routine histologic sections of digits amputated from cats and dogs. J Vet Diagn Invest. 2007;19:439–443. doi: 10.1177/104063870701900420. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/104063870701900420
Regan RC, Rassnick KM, Balkman CE, Bailey DB, McDonough SP. Comparison of first-opinion and second-opinion histopathology from dogs and cats with cancer: 430 cases (2001–2008) Vet Comp Oncol. 2010;8:1–10. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5829.2009.00203.x. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1476-5829.2009.00203.x
Lalibert SM, Poirier VJ, Pinard CJ, Hocker SE, Foster RA. A retrospective comparison of first and second opinion histopathology with patient outcomes in veterinary oncology cases (2011–2019) Vet Comp Oncol. 2022;20:198–206. doi: 10.1111/vco.12762. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/vco.12762
Regan RC, Rassnick KM, Malone EK, McDonough SP. A prospective evaluation of the impact of second-opinion histopathology on diagnostic testing, cost and treatment in dogs and cats with cancer. Vet Comp Oncol. 2015;13:106–116. doi: 10.1111/vco.12023. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/vco.12023
Milovancev M, Russell DS. Surgical margins in the veterinary cancer patient. Vet Comp Oncol. 2017;15:1136–1157. doi: 10.1111/vco.12284. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/vco.12284
Bray J, Eward W, Breen M. Evaluating the relevance of surgical margins. Part one: The problems with current methodology. Vet Comp Oncol. 2022 doi: 10.1111/vco.12865. Online ahead of print. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/vco.12865
Upchurch DA, Malenfant RC, Wignall JR, Ogden DM, Saile K. Effects of sample site and size, skin tension lines, surgeon, and formalin fixation on shrinkage of skin samples excised from canine cadavers. Am J Vet Res. 2014;75:1004–1009. doi: 10.2460/ajvr.75.11.1004. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.75.11.1004
Jeyakumar S, Smith AN, Schleis SE, Cattley RC, Tillson DM, Henderson RA. Effect of histologic processing on dimensions of skin samples obtained from cat cadavers. Am J Vet Res. 2015;76:939–945. doi: 10.2460/ajvr.76.11.939. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.76.11.939
Risselada M, Mathews KG, Griffith E. Surgically planned versus histologically measured lateral tumor margins for resection of cutaneous and subcutaneous mast cell tumors in dogs: 46 cases (2010–2013) J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2015;247:184–189. doi: 10.2460/javma.247.2.184. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.247.2.184
Wustefeld-Janssens BG, Vinayak A, Parker LA, Hollenbeck DL. Quantification of canine apocrine gland anal sac adenocarcinoma (AGASACA) tumor specimen shrinkage after formalin fixation. Animals. 2022;12:1869. doi: 10.3390/ani12151869. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12151869
Meuten DJ, Moore FM, Donovan TA, et al. International guidelines for veterinary tumor pathology: A call to action. Vet Pathol. 2021;58:766–794. doi: 10.1177/03009858211013712. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/03009858211013712
Dores CB, Milovancev M, Russell DS. Comparison of histologic margin status in low-grade cutaneous and subcutaneous canine mast cell tumours examined by radial and tangential sections. Vet Comp Oncol. 2018;16:125–130. doi: 10.1111/vco.12321. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/vco.12321
Stromberg PC, Meuten DJ. Trimming tumors for diagnosis and prognosis. In: Meuten DJ, editor. Tumors in Domestic Animals. 5th ed. Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley-Blackwell; 2020. pp. 27–43. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119181200.ch2
Kim MY, Oskarsson T, Acharyya S, et al. Tumor self-seeding by circulating cancer cells. Cell. 2009;139:1315–1326. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2009.11.025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2009.11.025
Zhang Y, Ma Q, Liu T, et al. Tumor self-seeding by circulating tumor cells in nude mouse models of human osteosarcoma and a preliminary study of its mechanisms. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2014;140:329–340. doi: 10.1007/s00432-013-1561-7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-013-1561-7
Curtius K, Wright NA, Graham TA. An evolutionary perspective on field cancerization. Nat Rev Cancer. 2018;18:19–32. doi: 10.1038/nrc.2017.102. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrc.2017.102
Hayashi M, Guerrero-Preston R, Okamura J, et al. Innovative rapid gene methylation analysis of surgical margin tissues in head and neck cancer. Ann Surg Oncol. 2014;21:3124–3131. doi: 10.1245/s10434-014-3661-2. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-014-3661-2
Donnelly L, Mullin C, Balko J, et al. Evaluation of histological grade and histologically tumour-free margins as predictors of local recurrence in completely excised canine mast cell tumours. Vet Comp Oncol. 2015;13:70–76. doi: 10.1111/vco.12021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/vco.12021
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
Copyright (c) 2023 International journal of health sciences
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Articles published in the International Journal of Health Sciences (IJHS) are available under Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives Licence (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0). Authors retain copyright in their work and grant IJHS right of first publication under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Users have the right to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of articles in this journal, and to use them for any other lawful purpose.
Articles published in IJHS can be copied, communicated and shared in their published form for non-commercial purposes provided full attribution is given to the author and the journal. Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
This copyright notice applies to articles published in IJHS volumes 4 onwards. Please read about the copyright notices for previous volumes under Journal History.
