› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Help understanding pathology report
- This topic has 3 replies, 1 voice, and was last updated 12 years, 3 months ago by
ecc26.
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- May 23, 2013 at 5:54 am
I had a couple moles removed and told I was lucky that it was pre melanoma but the doctor didn’t really explain my path report the first time and I had to have them go in deeper until the margins were clear. I was told that I would have to be vigilant and watched closely could anyone explain to me the path reports?A. Microscopic examination of the slides show an atypical melanocytic lesion with melanocytes in the epidermis and dermis consistent with a dysplastic junctional nevus. The margins of excision cannot be accessed with certainty.
B. Microscopic examination of the slides show a limited specimen showing atypical proliferation of melanocytes in the dermis with junctional component highly consistent with a junctional dysplastic nevus. Recommended reexcision with negative margins
Final Diagnosis
A. Consistent with a dysplastic junctional nevus The margins cannot be accessed with certainty. Therefore, I recommend re excision with negative margins.B. dysplastic junctional nevus with positive margins Recommend re excision with negative margins
Here is the path report from re excisions
Sections consist of skin erosion, squamous hyperplasia, edema and mild chronic inflammation. Residual carcinoma or dysplasia is not identified in these sections. The margins are free of dysplasia/carcinoma.
Final Diagnosis
Residual dysplasia is not identified. Erosion, squamous hyperplasia, and mild chronic inflammation.Can anyone kind of explain to me what all this means in a more understanding way? I am having to see a dermatologist about more suspicious moles that are changing and suspicious on other parts of the body. The two biopsies before from the same leg.
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- June 2, 2013 at 4:03 pm
By now you may have already seen a doctor or dermatologist who could help you understand this, but since you didn't get any replies I'll give it a go.
Basically what the report says is that there were some abnormal cells in the moles and for at least one of the moles the abnomral cells were present at the margins (which is what prompted the recommendation for a re-excision). Abnormal cells is not the same as malignant or cancerous cells. According to what you listed here, you do not (yet) have cancer. It is possible that these moles were on their way to becoming cancer (why there were abnormal cells in them), but they aren't cancer yet. It's still important to make sure all of the abnormal cells are removed (with the re excisions) so that it lessens the chances that cells left behind will become cancer.
If you have other moles that are changing on your body seeing a dermatologist (and probably having them removed as you notice them) is a good idea. You may have what's called Dysplastic Nevi Syndrome- which means you're moles have a tendancy to develop these atypical cells and show changes. People with this syndrome are more likely to develop Melanoma, but if you keep a close eye on them and keep having them removed as you notice changes you can probably stay ahead of any cancer trying to develop.
Good luck!
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- June 2, 2013 at 4:03 pm
By now you may have already seen a doctor or dermatologist who could help you understand this, but since you didn't get any replies I'll give it a go.
Basically what the report says is that there were some abnormal cells in the moles and for at least one of the moles the abnomral cells were present at the margins (which is what prompted the recommendation for a re-excision). Abnormal cells is not the same as malignant or cancerous cells. According to what you listed here, you do not (yet) have cancer. It is possible that these moles were on their way to becoming cancer (why there were abnormal cells in them), but they aren't cancer yet. It's still important to make sure all of the abnormal cells are removed (with the re excisions) so that it lessens the chances that cells left behind will become cancer.
If you have other moles that are changing on your body seeing a dermatologist (and probably having them removed as you notice them) is a good idea. You may have what's called Dysplastic Nevi Syndrome- which means you're moles have a tendancy to develop these atypical cells and show changes. People with this syndrome are more likely to develop Melanoma, but if you keep a close eye on them and keep having them removed as you notice changes you can probably stay ahead of any cancer trying to develop.
Good luck!
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- June 2, 2013 at 4:03 pm
By now you may have already seen a doctor or dermatologist who could help you understand this, but since you didn't get any replies I'll give it a go.
Basically what the report says is that there were some abnormal cells in the moles and for at least one of the moles the abnomral cells were present at the margins (which is what prompted the recommendation for a re-excision). Abnormal cells is not the same as malignant or cancerous cells. According to what you listed here, you do not (yet) have cancer. It is possible that these moles were on their way to becoming cancer (why there were abnormal cells in them), but they aren't cancer yet. It's still important to make sure all of the abnormal cells are removed (with the re excisions) so that it lessens the chances that cells left behind will become cancer.
If you have other moles that are changing on your body seeing a dermatologist (and probably having them removed as you notice them) is a good idea. You may have what's called Dysplastic Nevi Syndrome- which means you're moles have a tendancy to develop these atypical cells and show changes. People with this syndrome are more likely to develop Melanoma, but if you keep a close eye on them and keep having them removed as you notice changes you can probably stay ahead of any cancer trying to develop.
Good luck!
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Tagged: cutaneous melanoma
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