Your histology report: a short guide
Short patient information to print or keep.
Two reports, different information
The endoscopy report describes what I saw and sampled or removed. Histology describes the tissue under a microscope. Biopsies can detect microscopic disease, confirm a diagnosis or identify infection. A concerning area may be visible at endoscopy, but some important changes are only seen in the tissue samples.
Read the site and final diagnosis
Check your details, the procedure date and the sample location. Benign means non-cancerous. Inflammation has several possible causes. An adenoma is a bowel polyp with precancerous potential. Dysplasia means abnormal precancerous cells. High-grade dysplasia is not, by itself, invasive cancer. Uncertain wording may require clarification or further assessment.
What a biopsy can and cannot tell you
A normal result describes the tissue sampled. It does not exclude every condition. A biopsy may not remove the whole lesion. If a polyp was removed in pieces, its margins cannot be reliably reconstructed. That does not by itself mean tissue remains. An earlier check of the removal site may be recommended.
Your follow-up
Your recommended treatment and follow-up will be documented in your endoscopy and/or histology report. Routine biopsies often take a few weeks; urgent samples for a suspected serious problem are usually reported sooner. Extra tests can take longer. Please get in touch with me if your result is overdue or the next step is unclear. I may arrange an appointment for unexpected findings, and you are welcome to book one to discuss results or symptoms. Insurance cover depends on your policy.
Do not wait if you become unwell
After endoscopy, seek urgent assessment for heavy or ongoing bleeding, severe or worsening pain, fever or feeling faint. Follow your own discharge instructions. Call 111 if you collapse, have heavy bleeding with faintness or are too unwell to travel safely.
Do not wait for a laboratory result if you become unwell
After endoscopy, seek urgent assessment for heavy or ongoing bleeding, severe or worsening pain, fever or feeling faint. Follow your own discharge instructions.
Call 111 if you collapse, have heavy bleeding with faintness or are too unwell to travel safely.
General information. Follow your own care instructions.