Nottingham histological grade
Oncology, staging and radiology
Also known as: Elston-Ellis grade · Nottingham-Grading (Elston-Ellis) · Histologisches Grading nach Elston und Ellis · Nottingham histolojik derecesi · Nottingham histological grade of invasive breast cancer (Elston-Ellis)
What it is for
Semiquantitative grading of invasive breast carcinoma on haematoxylin–eosin sections: three features each score 1–3 and the sum (3–9) gives the grade.
Classification
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Tubule/gland formation | score 1 >75% of the tumour; 2 10–75%; 3 <10% (only structures with clear central lumina count). |
| Nuclear pleomorphism | score 1 small, regular nuclei similar to normal epithelium; 2 moderate enlargement and variation; 3 marked variation, large vesicular nuclei, often prominent nucleoli (assessed in the least differentiated area). |
| Mitotic count | counted in 10 high-power fields at the tumour periphery; the cut-offs depend on the field area (for about 2 mm²: score 1 ≤7, 2 8–14, 3 ≥15 mitoses). |
| Grade 1 | total 3–5 (well differentiated). |
| Grade 2 | total 6–7 (moderately differentiated). |
| Grade 3 | total 8–9 (poorly differentiated). |
Source
Pathological prognostic factors in breast cancer. I. The value of histological grade in breast cancer: experience from a large study with long-term follow-up
Histopathology 1991;19:403–410 (Elston CW, Ellis IO)
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2559.1991.tb00229.x
PMID: 1757079
- Edition
- Elston and Ellis 1991 modification of Bloom-Richardson (Nottingham grading system), as used in the International Collaboration on Cancer Reporting (ICCR) breast dataset
- Checked on
Summary of the published classification in our own words. Not a substitute for the original publication.
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