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Clark Level IV and T1a??
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Clark Level IV and T1a??

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Clark Level IV and T1a??

  • Post
    • May 5, 2011 at 12:19 am
    thebunches
    Participant

      My husband's initial biopsy path report is below… how can his Clark Level be VI but also have a Path Stage of T1a? What does this mean? (We have our first appt with the surg onco doc on Monday, and getting through this weekend is not going to be easy.)

      ______________________________________________________________

      Malignant Melanoma

      Thickness: 1.0 mm

      Clark's Level: IV

      Growth Phase: Vertical

      Ulceration: Not Identified

      Mitotic Rate: <1/mm2

      Angiolymphatic Invasion: Not Identified

      Features of Regression: Not Identified

      My husband's initial biopsy path report is below… how can his Clark Level be VI but also have a Path Stage of T1a? What does this mean? (We have our first appt with the surg onco doc on Monday, and getting through this weekend is not going to be easy.)

      ______________________________________________________________

      Malignant Melanoma

      Thickness: 1.0 mm

      Clark's Level: IV

      Growth Phase: Vertical

      Ulceration: Not Identified

      Mitotic Rate: <1/mm2

      Angiolymphatic Invasion: Not Identified

      Features of Regression: Not Identified

      Lymphocytic Host Response: Non-Brisk

      Pathologic Stage: T1a

      Microscopic:

      Atypical Melanocytes are present within the epidermis and the papillary and reticular dermis. There is confluent melanocytic proliferation at the dejunction. Atypical spindle melanocytic proliferation is seen within deep dermis along with fibroplasia. Speail immunohistochemical stains melan A and S-100 helps to identify melanocytes and outline their distribution. Melana stain demonstrates pagetoid proliferation of melanocytes. Multiple levels are examined.

      Comment:

      The lesion extends to the base of the specimen. Reexcision for clear margins is recommended. 

    Viewing 3 reply threads
    • Replies
        • May 5, 2011 at 12:22 am
        thebunches
        Participant

          Oops, Clark Level is FOUR (IV).

          • May 5, 2011 at 12:22 am
          thebunches
          Participant

            Oops, Clark Level is FOUR (IV).

            • May 5, 2011 at 1:07 am
            Janner
            Participant

              Staging is incorrect.  He is stage IB, not 1A.  Understand, Clark's Level is quite subjective and because of the variability in determining the correct level, they've determined that Breslow depth is much more telling.  In your situation, what is more important than 1a/1b is the result of the SNB.  THAT will be the important staging procedure – stage 1 versus stage III.  Do NOT worry about the little details yet, it isn't really going to help you make it through the weekend.  Obsessive research just causes more anxiety…  Just wait until you have all the facts in place and THEN it makes more sense to get your bearings!

              Best wishes,

              Janner

              • May 5, 2011 at 1:07 am
              Janner
              Participant

                Staging is incorrect.  He is stage IB, not 1A.  Understand, Clark's Level is quite subjective and because of the variability in determining the correct level, they've determined that Breslow depth is much more telling.  In your situation, what is more important than 1a/1b is the result of the SNB.  THAT will be the important staging procedure – stage 1 versus stage III.  Do NOT worry about the little details yet, it isn't really going to help you make it through the weekend.  Obsessive research just causes more anxiety…  Just wait until you have all the facts in place and THEN it makes more sense to get your bearings!

                Best wishes,

                Janner

            Viewing 3 reply threads
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