Diagrammatic Representation of the Gleason Grading System
Diagrammatic representation of the Gleason system The Gleason system
(developed by Dr. Gleason) of grading prostate cancer is now the most widely
accepted internationally. This system evaluates the capacity of the tumor
to form gland-like structures. Grade 1 cancers form tightly packed glands,
while grades 2 to 5 show progressively less tendency to do so. Since prostate
cancers are frequently heterogeneous, the Gleason score is calculated from
the sum of the Gleason grades from the two predominant tumor patterns.
The Gleason score is highly subjective, and can differ between pathologists.
It is critical to have a pathologist who is well versed in prostate-genitourinary
pathology evaluate the biopsy slides.
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