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biospie report
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biospie report

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › biospie report

  • Post
    • July 31, 2014 at 4:07 pm
    Brigitte
    Participant

      I was wondering if someone could help me understand my biopsy report. 

      On top is says clinical diagnosis  Lentigo VS. MM  (does that mean what my docter dignosed and sent to the patholoogy, or what the pathologist diannosed? 

       

      under that is says: Diagnosis: Compound Nevus with dysplastic Features.

      Sections show a compound nevomelanocytic prolifeeration exhibiting dysplastic features, primarily in the form of lentiginous architectural disorder and asymmetry, accompanied by random, relatively mild, cytologic atypia. Junctional changes are focally advanced, perhaps indicative of progression, such that a conservative complete excision is recommended. 

      Im a little freaked by the words focally advanced, perhaps indicative of progression. Does that mean that maybe I do have cancer but they cannot tell until they get the excersion biobsy?    Please help me understand what all this means. 

    Viewing 2 reply threads
    • Replies
        • July 31, 2014 at 6:28 pm
        Kim K
        Participant

          The report is saying it is difficult to distinguish from a nasty looking mole or early melanoma.  If you have to have melanoma, this is probably one of the best kind to have since it isn't blatantly screaming I am cancer.  It will come down to a judgement call by your pathologist.

          If it hasn't bee done already, make sure the slides are interpreted by a dermatopathologist.  They have special training to make those kinds of judgment calls.

          Either way, a wide excision is needed, and hopefully that will be the end of it.  You should have regular skin checks for life after this regardless.  Think of this more like a warning.  The concern is having another spot pop up rather than metastasis at this point.

            • July 31, 2014 at 7:25 pm
            Brigitte
            Participant

               What does it mean by junctional changes are focally advanced?   The word advanced is fresking me out. 

               

               

              • July 31, 2014 at 7:37 pm
              Janner
              Participant

                Analyzing the report line by line accomplishes nothing.  It is the sum of all the parts that makes up the final diagnosis and the doctor is justifying his diagnosis with each line.  It's the overall diagnosis that is important.  The diagnosis is NOT melanoma.  Junctional changes are related to cells located at the dermal/epidermal junction.  Everything here is "degrees".  Because there are changes at this location, it influences the diagnoses that the architecture is atypical however the cell structure only showed mild atypia. 

                Bottom line.  This isn't melanoma.  It may never have become melanoma.  But have the surgery to get the appropriate margins and move on. 

                • July 31, 2014 at 8:25 pm
                Brigitte
                Participant

                  Thank you Janner for easing my mind and saying it in a way I understand. Last year it was the dreaded mamogram call back (which turned out to be a cyst). Waiting for results are awful and then getting back results that you have no idea if it means your still waiting or if your in the clear can play havic with your nerves. The word advance just wouldn't  get out of my head. 

                  • July 31, 2014 at 8:25 pm
                  Brigitte
                  Participant

                    Thank you Janner for easing my mind and saying it in a way I understand. Last year it was the dreaded mamogram call back (which turned out to be a cyst). Waiting for results are awful and then getting back results that you have no idea if it means your still waiting or if your in the clear can play havic with your nerves. The word advance just wouldn't  get out of my head. 

                    • July 31, 2014 at 8:25 pm
                    Brigitte
                    Participant

                      Thank you Janner for easing my mind and saying it in a way I understand. Last year it was the dreaded mamogram call back (which turned out to be a cyst). Waiting for results are awful and then getting back results that you have no idea if it means your still waiting or if your in the clear can play havic with your nerves. The word advance just wouldn't  get out of my head. 

                      • July 31, 2014 at 7:37 pm
                      Janner
                      Participant

                        Analyzing the report line by line accomplishes nothing.  It is the sum of all the parts that makes up the final diagnosis and the doctor is justifying his diagnosis with each line.  It's the overall diagnosis that is important.  The diagnosis is NOT melanoma.  Junctional changes are related to cells located at the dermal/epidermal junction.  Everything here is "degrees".  Because there are changes at this location, it influences the diagnoses that the architecture is atypical however the cell structure only showed mild atypia. 

                        Bottom line.  This isn't melanoma.  It may never have become melanoma.  But have the surgery to get the appropriate margins and move on. 

                        • July 31, 2014 at 7:37 pm
                        Janner
                        Participant

                          Analyzing the report line by line accomplishes nothing.  It is the sum of all the parts that makes up the final diagnosis and the doctor is justifying his diagnosis with each line.  It's the overall diagnosis that is important.  The diagnosis is NOT melanoma.  Junctional changes are related to cells located at the dermal/epidermal junction.  Everything here is "degrees".  Because there are changes at this location, it influences the diagnoses that the architecture is atypical however the cell structure only showed mild atypia. 

                          Bottom line.  This isn't melanoma.  It may never have become melanoma.  But have the surgery to get the appropriate margins and move on. 

                          • July 31, 2014 at 7:25 pm
                          Brigitte
                          Participant

                             What does it mean by junctional changes are focally advanced?   The word advanced is fresking me out. 

                             

                             

                            • July 31, 2014 at 7:25 pm
                            Brigitte
                            Participant

                               What does it mean by junctional changes are focally advanced?   The word advanced is fresking me out. 

                               

                               

                            • July 31, 2014 at 6:28 pm
                            Kim K
                            Participant

                              The report is saying it is difficult to distinguish from a nasty looking mole or early melanoma.  If you have to have melanoma, this is probably one of the best kind to have since it isn't blatantly screaming I am cancer.  It will come down to a judgement call by your pathologist.

                              If it hasn't bee done already, make sure the slides are interpreted by a dermatopathologist.  They have special training to make those kinds of judgment calls.

                              Either way, a wide excision is needed, and hopefully that will be the end of it.  You should have regular skin checks for life after this regardless.  Think of this more like a warning.  The concern is having another spot pop up rather than metastasis at this point.

                              • July 31, 2014 at 6:28 pm
                              Kim K
                              Participant

                                The report is saying it is difficult to distinguish from a nasty looking mole or early melanoma.  If you have to have melanoma, this is probably one of the best kind to have since it isn't blatantly screaming I am cancer.  It will come down to a judgement call by your pathologist.

                                If it hasn't bee done already, make sure the slides are interpreted by a dermatopathologist.  They have special training to make those kinds of judgment calls.

                                Either way, a wide excision is needed, and hopefully that will be the end of it.  You should have regular skin checks for life after this regardless.  Think of this more like a warning.  The concern is having another spot pop up rather than metastasis at this point.

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