OncoLink Cancer Treatment and Resources

What is meant by "4 out of 10 nodes positive?"

Last Modified: January 24, 2012

Question

What is meant by "4 out of 10 nodes positive?"

Answer

Christine Hill-Kayser, MD, Radiation Oncologist, responds:

This means that 10 total lymph nodes were removed, and cancer cells were seen within 4 of them.

You can find this information on your pathology report. If you have breast, prostate, colon cancer or melanoma, you can find a guide to reviewing your report by searching "pathology report" on OncoLink.

This question and answer was part of the OncoLink Brown Bag Chat Series. View the entire Interpreting Test Results transcript.

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As an oncologist, Dr. Giantonio provides care for many patients at the end of life, which he describes as a privilege and rewarding. Read more.

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