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New here – help understanding pathology report
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New here – help understanding pathology report

› Forums › Cutaneous Melanoma Community › New here – help understanding pathology report

  • Post
    • February 19, 2019 at 11:26 pm
    mclyde
    Participant

      I had a 7mm punch biopsy done to remove a suspicious mole (6mm x 3mm) and the pathology report came back as 

      MELANOCYTIC NEVUS COMPOUND TYPE, WITH SEVERE ARCHITECTURAL DISORDER AND SEVERE CYTOLOGIC ATYPIA OF MELANOCYTES. SEE NOTE.

      NOTE: The lesion shows worrisome features for evolving malignant melanoma in-situ.  Immunohistochemistry for MART-1 supports the above diagnosis. The lesion extends to the margin.

       

      I am going back next week for an excision to remove 5mm margins.   

      Is this considered a melanoma in situ (Stage 0 ?)  that is evolving or a dysplastic nevi with characteristics that suggest it could evolve into a melanoma (pre-cursor) ?  I understand treatment would be the same and if it were melanoma has a ~ 100% cure rate.

      What questions should I be asking when I return?

      While they biopsy the tissue taken from this excision?  

      does MART-1 make it more likely that it is melanoma in terms of a differential diagnosis?

      Would followup be different?

      Thanks in advance!

       

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        • February 20, 2019 at 12:35 am
        ed williams
        Participant

          If you go back a couple of months on the forum, you will find a name "Janner" who usually answered questions like you have, but since some numb nut pissed her off, she has taken a holiday from the forum, big loss!!!! If you find her name click on it and go back over her post history and you will find explainations for situation like your own. My take on the situation is ask your derm, but I wouldn't lose any sleep over either situation you have described!!! Best Wishes!!!Ed

            • February 21, 2019 at 6:47 pm
            mclyde
            Participant

              Thanks!   I did go back and read moreof Janner's posts and saw one about MART-1 and seems that is not predictive at all (indicator of melancytes but those would be present in a benign nevi as well)

              Will find out more after the excision next week and any follow up results.

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