Hi Everyone,

Having just received moms hospital notes back they describe her cancer as a "moderately differentiated SCC".

Ive googled this and I understand there is poorly differentiated and well differentiated SCC's.

Could anyone advise on what this actually means. Results of the PET scan are on 5th March. Fingers crossed.

Oli

Pass on that one Oli. I'm sure someone will be able to help though.

Oli,
When I had my Biopsys I was told i had poorly differenciated SCC but the histology after my tonsilectomy and neck dissection said moderately differentiated, apparently its to do with the make up of the cancer cells.
I have this extract from the internet.

"""Squamous cell carcinomas are graded according to their degree of differentiation and designated as well, moderately, or poorly differentiated. Well differentiated tumors are recognized as exhibiting orderly stratification, obvious cellular bridges, and keratin pearl formation. In contrast, poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinomas are noted for their lack of keratinization and lack of intercellular bridges. Moderately differentiated tumors fall somewhere in between. Tumors are graded with respect to their least differentiated areas. The criteria for assigning grade are not precise and there are overlaps between the three categories.

The diagnosis and classification of squamous cell carcinomas are generally not aided by the use of routine histochemical stains. Occasionally, these tumors may form architectural patterns suggestive of glandular formation. In this case mucicarmine or periodic acid-Schiff with diastase stains are negative for cytoplastic mucin. Thus, certain immunohistochemical stains may also aid in making the diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma. The two most useful are stains for keratins and epidermal growth factor receptor"".
Maybe a bit too scientific, but hope it helps.

This term describes how mature the cancer cells are compared to normal cells. Well-differentiated tumours have cells that are mature look a lot like normal cells and tend to grow slowly.. Undifferentiated, or poorly differentiated, tumor cells do not look or work like normal cells. They grow quickly and have a tendency to spread.