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Confused about Pathology Report
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Confused about Pathology Report

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Confused about Pathology Report

  • Post
    • August 21, 2014 at 9:32 pm
    Resilient4Life
    Participant

      This post is a follow up to "Informed Yesterday". My report came in the mail, naturally after business hours. Please decipher.

      DIAGNOSIS: Skin (left forehead): Consistent with actinic keratosis, I

      Note: No evidence of carcinoma is identified in multiple sections. Only a small amount of dermis is available for the specimen study.

      Skin: (left upper arm): Malignant Melanoma, II

      Thickness: 0.25 mmm, Clarks Level II, no ulcer or mitosis

      Note: Most of the lesion is malignant melanoma in situ, lentigo maligna type but it extends focally into the superficial dermis. In situ melanoma extends to the side margins.

      CLINICAL HISTORY:

      Left forehead-6mm atropic pink macule, basal cell carcinoma

      Left upper arm-7mm pin and brown macule, basal cell carcinoma

      GROSS DESCRIPTION:

      Left forehead coded I: A 0.5cm. specimen is pale tan.

      Left upper arm coded II: A 0.5 cm. specimen is pale tan.

      James A. Seab, M.D.

      My untrained eye sees the words Malignant melanoma and basal cell carcinoma. I thought these were two different things. If the first forehead note says no carcinoma, why does it say in the clinical history basal cell carcinoma? Should I push for a removal of the forehead area as well? Thank you in advance for your replies.

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        • August 21, 2014 at 10:36 pm
        Janner
        Participant

          The forehead is an actinic keratosis.  That is precancerous and not basal cell.  It's totally unrelated to the melanoma diagnosis.  Clinical history means something you had removed previously.  I'd only remove more from the forehead if it grows back.

          Your melanoma is stage 1a.  It is very early and all that is requIred is thE WLE, the wide local excision.

           

           

          • August 21, 2014 at 10:36 pm
          Janner
          Participant

            The forehead is an actinic keratosis.  That is precancerous and not basal cell.  It's totally unrelated to the melanoma diagnosis.  Clinical history means something you had removed previously.  I'd only remove more from the forehead if it grows back.

            Your melanoma is stage 1a.  It is very early and all that is requIred is thE WLE, the wide local excision.

             

             

            • August 21, 2014 at 10:36 pm
            Janner
            Participant

              The forehead is an actinic keratosis.  That is precancerous and not basal cell.  It's totally unrelated to the melanoma diagnosis.  Clinical history means something you had removed previously.  I'd only remove more from the forehead if it grows back.

              Your melanoma is stage 1a.  It is very early and all that is requIred is thE WLE, the wide local excision.

               

               

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