Nuclear Grade 2-3/3 - is it 2 or 3 or both?

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Rosamond
Rosamond Member Posts: 114
edited June 2014 in DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)

Just diagnosed with DCIS, Nuclear Grade 2-3/3, solid, no central necrosis, 5mm longest tumor in stereotactic biopsy last Monday. Stage 0, as it's DCIS. Found initially by a diag mammogram after not having had a screening for 5 years. The radiologist almost didn't recommend a biopsy as the micro-calcs "almost" looked benign-she gave a BIRADS of 4a, low suspicion, and I ended up in the 9-13% who test positive. (Sigh) Question...what does this nuclear grade mean on the path report from the biopsy? Is it intermediate, high, or a mixture? Thanks. Oh, and my username is after a cat I had for 15 years who had a tumor on her nipple-it was removed at age 7 without clean margins, and she went on to live a full life expectancy!

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  • ballet12
    ballet12 Member Posts: 981
    edited June 2013

    Hi Rosamond, with regard to the grade, it is possible to have both grades in your pathology.  It is also possible that your facility just indicates Nuclear Grades 2 to 3. I had several surgeries on my area of DCIS, ultimately at two different hospitals.  The first hospital indicated Grade 3, high nuclear grade (multifocal and to all the margins).  The second indicated Intermediate to High Grade 2-3, but I noticed that this hospital tends to indicate Intermediate to High Grade, even if it is all one or the other.  My surgeon treated it as high grade.  You should ask the surgeon if it is standard to indicate Nuclear Grade 2-3 if it is either one or other grade.

    Best of luck to you in this journey.

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  • Rosamond
    Rosamond Member Posts: 114
    edited June 2013

    Thanks, ballet12!

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited June 2013

    Rosamond, welcome to BCO.

    You may find interesting to read more in our main site about Type and grade of DCIS following the underlined link.

    Endearing story about your cat!!

    Best wishes.

    ---The Mods

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  • Rosamond
    Rosamond Member Posts: 114
    edited June 2013

    Met with my surgeon today, and she said that the 2-3 means there was a mix of grades and that a final grade will be assigned in the pathology report post-surgery when the predominant pattern is identified.

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  • ballet12
    ballet12 Member Posts: 981
    edited June 2013

    That solves the mystery.

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