Pathology Report Translator
We translate your report into plain language, explain what terms usually mean, and generate questions to ask your doctor.
Translate Your Pathology Report
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Understand Your Report in 3 Steps
Our Pathology Report Translator turns confusing medical jargon into clear, plain-language explanations you can actually use.
Paste Your Report
Copy any section from your pathology report and paste it into our translator. Your text is processed entirely in your browser — nothing is sent to a server.
Get Plain-Language Explanations
We identify staging terms, biomarkers, grades, and procedures in your report and explain each one in clear, non-medical language.
Prepare for Your Appointment
Based on your report, we generate a personalized list of questions to bring to your next doctor visit. Walk in informed and ready to advocate.
What This Tool Does & Does Not Do
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What It Does
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Understanding Your Report
A brief overview of what pathology reports contain and why each section matters.
A pathology report is a medical document prepared by a pathologist — a doctor who specializes in examining tissue samples under a microscope. After a biopsy or surgery, the removed tissue is sent to a pathology lab where it is analyzed in detail. The resulting report is one of the most important documents in your cancer journey because it provides the information your oncologist needs to recommend treatment.
Specimen Information
This section identifies what tissue was removed, where it came from in the body, and how it was obtained (biopsy, lumpectomy, mastectomy, etc.). It may also include the size and weight of the specimen.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis section states the type of cancer found — for example, invasive ductal carcinoma or adenocarcinoma. It may include the histologic subtype, which describes the specific pattern of cells the pathologist observed. This is one of the first things your oncologist will review.
Staging (TNM)
Staging describes how advanced the cancer is. The TNM system is the most widely used: T refers to the size of the primary tumor, N indicates whether cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes, and M tells whether it has metastasized (spread) to distant parts of the body. Together, these determine an overall stage (I through IV).
Surgical Margins
If tissue was surgically removed, the pathologist examines the outer edges (margins) to determine whether cancer cells reach the edge of the removed tissue. "Negative" or "clear" margins mean no cancer was found at the edges. "Positive" margins mean cancer cells extend to the edge, which may mean additional treatment or surgery is needed.
Biomarkers
Biomarkers are measurable characteristics of the cancer cells that guide treatment decisions. Common biomarkers in breast cancer include estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and HER2 status. Other cancers may be tested for PD-L1, microsatellite instability (MSI), tumor mutational burden (TMB), or specific gene mutations like BRCA1 and BRCA2. Understanding your biomarker profile is critical for determining which therapies may be most effective.
If you have questions about any section of your report, bring it to your next appointment and ask your care team to walk through it with you. You deserve to understand every word.