The diagnostic elements are:
- Name of the tumor
This indicates, for example:
- the tissue of origin (e.g., for retinal cancer, the term retinoblastoma is used, for bone cancer, the term osteosarcoma is used, etc.);
- the organ in which the tumor developed (e.g., for a kidney tumor, the term nephroblastoma is used);
- etc.
If the disease starts at the level of a blood cell, we are talking about leukemia, and if it concerns the lymphatic system, it is malignant lymphoma.
- Stage of the disease
It shows how extensive the disease is, which is very important for determining treatment. Depending on the severity, there are 4 stages of the disease:
- stage I – generally means the tumor can be removed by surgery
- stage II – when there is a tumor residue (a remnant of the tumor) microscopically after the removal of the tumor
- stage III – when there are large tumors that cannot be removed by surgery
- stage IV – when the tumor has also created distant metastases in the normal functioning of the organ where the tumor is located.
- Degree of malignancy
It shows how aggressive the tumor is.
- The degree of impairment of the function of the respective organ
It shows how much the normal functioning of the organ where the tumor is located has been impaired.
- Indication of associated diseases and other possible complications
The diagnosis may also refer to other diseases that may be present or may appear as a result of the disease itself, as well as to some complications that may appear during the course of the disease (for example, what is the effect of the disease on other organs).