Vähilike

Vähilike is a Finnish medical term used to describe lesions, imaging findings, or histopathologic patterns that resemble malignant tumors (cancer) but are not necessarily cancerous. The term is used to convey diagnostic uncertainty and to signal that further investigation—such as biopsy, repeat imaging, or molecular testing—may be required.

In radiology, findings on modalities like CT or MRI may be described as vähilike when a lesion appears irregular, with heterogeneous enhancement or borders that suggest malignancy. The label indicates that malignancy cannot be excluded based on imaging alone and that additional diagnostic workup is appropriate.

In pathology, some benign or inflammatory processes can imitate cancer under the microscope. When this occurs, a pathologist may use vähilike to denote that the observed cellular patterns resemble malignancy, while noting that invasive growth, metastasis, or other definitive features of cancer are absent or require further confirmation.

Clinical relevance of the term lies in guiding management decisions. By signaling possible malignancy without committing to a cancer diagnosis, the label can influence whether to pursue biopsy, close surveillance, or additional testing to establish a definitive diagnosis and appropriate treatment plan.

Limitations and usage vary: vähilike is primarily found in Finnish medical literature and may lack a strictly standardized definition across different specialties or institutions. The precise interpretation can depend on the clinical context, modality, and accompanying diagnostic findings.