Can anyone help inerperet this pathology report?
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Can anyone help inerperet this pathology report?

› Forums › Cutaneous Melanoma Community › Can anyone help inerperet this pathology report?

  • Post
    • March 5, 2016 at 1:32 pm
    butterandbacon
    Participant

    The pathology report reads, "Diagnosis: Melanoma in situ".

    Comments: This melanoma in situ is rather narrow and does not involve the margins of this punch specimen. However, appropriate excision is advised.

    Gross description: Received is a .6 X .7 cm tan cylindrical skin segment. TS 2 (??)

    Microscopic description: This punch specimen shows a narrow but poorly circumscribed confluent proliferation of atypical junctional solitary and nested melanocytes with prominent pagetoid spread above the basal layer and focal adnexal involvement.

     

    We are meeting with a local oncologist we were referred to by the diagnosising dermatologist. We also have an appt at the Moffit Cancer Center in Tampa, FL. What are some questions we should ask? What does this report say, exactly? The dermatologist didn't even give the diagnosis, it was the nurse, and she acted like this wasn't a big deal which makes me mad on his behalf because I feel like everyone is sending him the message that it's not ok to be worried or stressed. I wasn't there with him and he was a little in shock.

Viewing 5 reply threads
  • Replies
      • March 5, 2016 at 5:49 pm
      jennunicorn
      Participant
      A melanoma in situ is stage 0. Usually you just get a wide local excision, some of the skin and tissue around the biopsy site taken out. And then regular checks with a dermatologist. You don’t usually see an oncologist for stage 0, so I’m not sure why they referred you to an oncologist, unless it’s a melanoma surgeon who will perform the wide local excision and will explain to you the whys and how’s of the procedure.
      I’m sorry the nurse acted like it’s no big deal. It’s good news that it is stage 0, meaning it did not go deeper than the first layer of your skin. Now that you’ve had this you will be more aware of changing and new moles or growths on your body in order to catch anything else if anything decides to pop up again.

      All the best,

      • March 5, 2016 at 5:49 pm
      jennunicorn
      Participant
      A melanoma in situ is stage 0. Usually you just get a wide local excision, some of the skin and tissue around the biopsy site taken out. And then regular checks with a dermatologist. You don’t usually see an oncologist for stage 0, so I’m not sure why they referred you to an oncologist, unless it’s a melanoma surgeon who will perform the wide local excision and will explain to you the whys and how’s of the procedure.
      I’m sorry the nurse acted like it’s no big deal. It’s good news that it is stage 0, meaning it did not go deeper than the first layer of your skin. Now that you’ve had this you will be more aware of changing and new moles or growths on your body in order to catch anything else if anything decides to pop up again.

      All the best,

      • March 5, 2016 at 5:49 pm
      jennunicorn
      Participant
      A melanoma in situ is stage 0. Usually you just get a wide local excision, some of the skin and tissue around the biopsy site taken out. And then regular checks with a dermatologist. You don’t usually see an oncologist for stage 0, so I’m not sure why they referred you to an oncologist, unless it’s a melanoma surgeon who will perform the wide local excision and will explain to you the whys and how’s of the procedure.
      I’m sorry the nurse acted like it’s no big deal. It’s good news that it is stage 0, meaning it did not go deeper than the first layer of your skin. Now that you’ve had this you will be more aware of changing and new moles or growths on your body in order to catch anything else if anything decides to pop up again.

      All the best,

      • March 5, 2016 at 5:49 pm
      jennunicorn
      Participant
      A melanoma in situ is stage 0. Usually you just get a wide local excision, some of the skin and tissue around the biopsy site taken out. And then regular checks with a dermatologist. You don’t usually see an oncologist for stage 0, so I’m not sure why they referred you to an oncologist, unless it’s a melanoma surgeon who will perform the wide local excision and will explain to you the whys and how’s of the procedure.
      I’m sorry the nurse acted like it’s no big deal. It’s good news that it is stage 0, meaning it did not go deeper than the first layer of your skin. Now that you’ve had this you will be more aware of changing and new moles or growths on your body in order to catch anything else if anything decides to pop up again.

      All the best,

      • March 5, 2016 at 5:49 pm
      jennunicorn
      Participant
      A melanoma in situ is stage 0. Usually you just get a wide local excision, some of the skin and tissue around the biopsy site taken out. And then regular checks with a dermatologist. You don’t usually see an oncologist for stage 0, so I’m not sure why they referred you to an oncologist, unless it’s a melanoma surgeon who will perform the wide local excision and will explain to you the whys and how’s of the procedure.
      I’m sorry the nurse acted like it’s no big deal. It’s good news that it is stage 0, meaning it did not go deeper than the first layer of your skin. Now that you’ve had this you will be more aware of changing and new moles or growths on your body in order to catch anything else if anything decides to pop up again.

      All the best,

      • March 5, 2016 at 5:49 pm
      jennunicorn
      Participant
      A melanoma in situ is stage 0. Usually you just get a wide local excision, some of the skin and tissue around the biopsy site taken out. And then regular checks with a dermatologist. You don’t usually see an oncologist for stage 0, so I’m not sure why they referred you to an oncologist, unless it’s a melanoma surgeon who will perform the wide local excision and will explain to you the whys and how’s of the procedure.
      I’m sorry the nurse acted like it’s no big deal. It’s good news that it is stage 0, meaning it did not go deeper than the first layer of your skin. Now that you’ve had this you will be more aware of changing and new moles or growths on your body in order to catch anything else if anything decides to pop up again.

      All the best,

Viewing 5 reply threads

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