Please help with path report
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Please help with path report

› Forums › Cutaneous Melanoma Community › Please help with path report

  • Post
    • July 18, 2011 at 9:38 pm
    triciad
    Participant

      Hi Everyone,

      I just got a copy fo the pathology report from last week's failed excision.  It's all greek to me, so if anyone understands this, please let me know what you think.

      Hi Everyone,

      I just got a copy fo the pathology report from last week's failed excision.  It's all greek to me, so if anyone understands this, please let me know what you think.

      "Within the deep reticular dermis and subcutaneous tissue there are scattered cells with hyperchromatic nuclei that stain positively with S-100 protein.  The nature of these cells is difficult to determine as they altered by "crush" artifact.  Nevertheless, in the context of the previous biopsy from this patient, the possibility that these cells represent subtle infiltration of the tissue by metastic melanoma cannont be unequivocally ruled out.  An excision of this area is recommended.  There is no evidence of a cyst or lipoma in mulitlple levels of sectioning."

      My concern is that when my dermatologist told me it was too deep for her to get…I was okay with that.  Now, it seems that she punctured it and took pieces of it to send to the lab.  Is it spreading throughout my body now?  How bad is this?

      I have surgery on Wednesday morning and it can't come fast enough.

      Thanks for helping me out with this…I'm freaking!

      Tricia

    Viewing 1 reply thread
    • Replies
        • July 18, 2011 at 10:04 pm
        MichaelFL
        Participant

          You do not have a profile filled out, and I do not accurately recall your past posts, so I may have to start over.

          Does your other pathology report from the first biopsy say anything about a Breslow depth?

          I'm guessing they unable to determine the Breslow since the cells were crushed?

          I do not think that anyone can say if it is in your blood, but has or will a SNB be discussed with you since the cells were "crushed" and the Breslow depth was not able to be properly determined?

          Michael

          • July 18, 2011 at 10:04 pm
          MichaelFL
          Participant

            You do not have a profile filled out, and I do not accurately recall your past posts, so I may have to start over.

            Does your other pathology report from the first biopsy say anything about a Breslow depth?

            I'm guessing they unable to determine the Breslow since the cells were crushed?

            I do not think that anyone can say if it is in your blood, but has or will a SNB be discussed with you since the cells were "crushed" and the Breslow depth was not able to be properly determined?

            Michael

              • July 18, 2011 at 10:25 pm
              triciad
              Participant

                Hi Michael,

                Sorry Michael, I haven'[t figured out how to make a profile, yet.  I will try to get that done this summer.

                Past history – Diagnosed 7/09, Stage 3B, 3 positive nodes in left groin.  Did year of Interferon and finished in 11/10.

                I felt a small bump under my skin on 7/9/11, close to original site.  Dermatologist tried to excise, but it was too deep…or so she said.  Possibly, she realized once she opened me that it was melanoma again.  She paged my oncologist and surgeon to set up appointments.  I had MRI-brain, which was clear, and my PET only showed this bump as a hot spot.  Surgeon will remove this Wednesday. 

                I posted the entire pathology report.  No mention of breslow, I guess cause it was a sub-q.

                Thanks so much for your help.  I know I have learned SO MUCH from reading your posts over the last 2 years.  In fact, you should probably send me a bill!

                Tricia

                 

                • July 18, 2011 at 10:25 pm
                triciad
                Participant

                  Hi Michael,

                  Sorry Michael, I haven'[t figured out how to make a profile, yet.  I will try to get that done this summer.

                  Past history – Diagnosed 7/09, Stage 3B, 3 positive nodes in left groin.  Did year of Interferon and finished in 11/10.

                  I felt a small bump under my skin on 7/9/11, close to original site.  Dermatologist tried to excise, but it was too deep…or so she said.  Possibly, she realized once she opened me that it was melanoma again.  She paged my oncologist and surgeon to set up appointments.  I had MRI-brain, which was clear, and my PET only showed this bump as a hot spot.  Surgeon will remove this Wednesday. 

                  I posted the entire pathology report.  No mention of breslow, I guess cause it was a sub-q.

                  Thanks so much for your help.  I know I have learned SO MUCH from reading your posts over the last 2 years.  In fact, you should probably send me a bill!

                  Tricia

                   

                  • July 18, 2011 at 10:48 pm
                  Janner
                  Participant

                    It doesn't say anything about margins, so I don't think you can make any assumptions about "cells floating about".  The reality is in-transit cells might be in your lymph vessels only and NOT in your blood stream.  Or a cell could have been left behind from the original lesion and setup a new home nearby.  They recommend re-excision because surgery is always the best choice to remove cells.  Their is nowhere that says she punctured the lesion and left anything behind.    The reality is you already have lymphatic systemic disease.  I see nothing about this report that changes that.  I don't think this means anything new as this is close to your original lesion.   Don't  make assumptions that the cells are anywhere else just because of the biopsy.  Hang in there, Wednesday is just around the corner.

                    Best wishes,

                    Janner

                    • July 18, 2011 at 10:48 pm
                    Janner
                    Participant

                      It doesn't say anything about margins, so I don't think you can make any assumptions about "cells floating about".  The reality is in-transit cells might be in your lymph vessels only and NOT in your blood stream.  Or a cell could have been left behind from the original lesion and setup a new home nearby.  They recommend re-excision because surgery is always the best choice to remove cells.  Their is nowhere that says she punctured the lesion and left anything behind.    The reality is you already have lymphatic systemic disease.  I see nothing about this report that changes that.  I don't think this means anything new as this is close to your original lesion.   Don't  make assumptions that the cells are anywhere else just because of the biopsy.  Hang in there, Wednesday is just around the corner.

                      Best wishes,

                      Janner

                      • July 18, 2011 at 11:22 pm
                      triciad
                      Participant

                        Janner,

                        As always, you are the voice of reason.  Thank you for taking the time to reply and offer some words of encouragement.  You and Michael have taught me so much about this disease.  I look forward to reading each of your posts because I know they will be filled with information I need to learn.

                        Best wishes for a fabulous summer and thanks again for your help!

                        Tricia

                        • July 18, 2011 at 11:22 pm
                        triciad
                        Participant

                          Janner,

                          As always, you are the voice of reason.  Thank you for taking the time to reply and offer some words of encouragement.  You and Michael have taught me so much about this disease.  I look forward to reading each of your posts because I know they will be filled with information I need to learn.

                          Best wishes for a fabulous summer and thanks again for your help!

                          Tricia

                          • July 19, 2011 at 12:08 am
                          MichaelFL
                          Participant

                            Thanks for bringing me up to speed.

                            Although I did pop in once or twice on the board, I was on vacation from the beginning of July to the 10th, so I did miss many of your recent posts.

                            Sorry about that, I guess I should have went by your posts instead of your profile.

                            No charge….

                            Michael

                            • July 19, 2011 at 12:08 am
                            MichaelFL
                            Participant

                              Thanks for bringing me up to speed.

                              Although I did pop in once or twice on the board, I was on vacation from the beginning of July to the 10th, so I did miss many of your recent posts.

                              Sorry about that, I guess I should have went by your posts instead of your profile.

                              No charge….

                              Michael

                              • July 19, 2011 at 1:05 am
                              triciad
                              Participant

                                Thanks Michael…hope your vacation was fun and relaxing!

                                • July 19, 2011 at 1:05 am
                                triciad
                                Participant

                                  Thanks Michael…hope your vacation was fun and relaxing!

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