WHO Tumor Grading System
The World Health Organization (WHO) tumor grading system classifies tumors based on their histological appearance and, increasingly, their molecular characteristics. The grading helps predict tumor behavior, guide treatment, and estimate prognosis.
General Tumor Grades (WHO)
| WHO Grade | Description | Biological Behavior |
|---|---|---|
| WHO Grade 1 | Well-differentiated tumor cells that closely resemble normal cells. | Slow-growing, typically benign, low recurrence risk. |
| WHO Grade 2 | Moderately differentiated with mild to moderate atypia. | Intermediate growth, higher risk of recurrence. |
| WHO Grade 3 | Poorly differentiated with marked atypia and increased mitotic activity. | Malignant, faster growing, higher recurrence and progression risk. |
| WHO Grade 4 | Undifferentiated or anaplastic cells with aggressive histology. | Highly malignant, rapidly growing, often poor prognosis. |
Application in CNS Tumors
In central nervous system (CNS) tumors, WHO grading is tumor-type specific and now incorporates molecular markers (e.g., IDH mutation, 1p/19q codeletion, CDKN2A/B deletion). The 2021 WHO CNS 5th edition uses Arabic numerals (1–4) and integrates histological and molecular features to assign grades.
| WHO CNS Grade | Typical Examples | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Grade 1 | Pilocytic astrocytoma, meningioma (benign) | Often curable with surgery alone. |
| Grade 2 | Diffuse astrocytoma (IDH-mutant), atypical meningioma | Requires monitoring or adjuvant therapy. |
| Grade 3 | Anaplastic astrocytoma (IDH-mutant), anaplastic meningioma | Malignant, usually treated with surgery + radiochemotherapy. |
| Grade 4 | Glioblastoma (IDH-wildtype), medulloblastoma, diffuse midline glioma | Highly aggressive, poor prognosis despite multimodal treatment. |
Clinical Relevance
- Guides treatment strategy (e.g., surgery alone vs. combined therapy).
- Predicts recurrence and progression.
- Standardizes communication between clinicians and across studies.