Clark’s level newly diagnosed

Clark's level is an outdated way of describing how deep the melanoma cells have penetrated into the skin. It's something that a pathologist determines using a microscope. Clark's level  has nothing to do with the stage of the melanoma and is a poor predictor of your prognosis. 

Try to ignore the Clark's level info– it really gives you no useful information.

Clark's level is an outdated way of describing how deep the melanoma cells have penetrated into the skin. It's something that a pathologist determines using a microscope. Clark's level  has nothing to do with the stage of the melanoma and is a poor predictor of your prognosis. 

Try to ignore the Clark's level info– it really gives you no useful information.

Clark's level is an outdated way of describing how deep the melanoma cells have penetrated into the skin. It's something that a pathologist determines using a microscope. Clark's level  has nothing to do with the stage of the melanoma and is a poor predictor of your prognosis. 

Try to ignore the Clark's level info– it really gives you no useful information.

deep shave biopsies can get the whole lesion; your pathology report should either say margins are involved, or margins are clear, or extends close to the margins, etc. .   that's how you would know if the depth reported is all of it or if margins were involved. . .etc…

deep shave biopsies can get the whole lesion; your pathology report should either say margins are involved, or margins are clear, or extends close to the margins, etc. .   that's how you would know if the depth reported is all of it or if margins were involved. . .etc…

deep shave biopsies can get the whole lesion; your pathology report should either say margins are involved, or margins are clear, or extends close to the margins, etc. .   that's how you would know if the depth reported is all of it or if margins were involved. . .etc…

Most shave biopsies will get a .29mm depth lesion.  As the other poster stated, the path report would note if the deep margins were involved.  Dermal mitosis not present means it was not seen, not that it wasn't checked.  They don't just put stuff in the path report unless it is checked.  This is called out, and this is used in staging.  That means it was checked and found not to be present.  This means it is stage IA instead of stage IB.

This is still a very low risk lesion.  Nothing has changed. 

Most shave biopsies will get a .29mm depth lesion.  As the other poster stated, the path report would note if the deep margins were involved.  Dermal mitosis not present means it was not seen, not that it wasn't checked.  They don't just put stuff in the path report unless it is checked.  This is called out, and this is used in staging.  That means it was checked and found not to be present.  This means it is stage IA instead of stage IB.

This is still a very low risk lesion.  Nothing has changed. 

Most shave biopsies will get a .29mm depth lesion.  As the other poster stated, the path report would note if the deep margins were involved.  Dermal mitosis not present means it was not seen, not that it wasn't checked.  They don't just put stuff in the path report unless it is checked.  This is called out, and this is used in staging.  That means it was checked and found not to be present.  This means it is stage IA instead of stage IB.

This is still a very low risk lesion.  Nothing has changed. 

You do not need the lymph node mapping.  That isn't done for stage IA.  It is a surgical procedure that would be done under general anesthesia in a hospital setting.  You DO need the wide excision.  This most often is an office procedure.  Surgical removal of melanoma is the best treatment.  A stage I lesion should have 1cm margins around the primary.  Your shave biopsy is unlikely to achieve 1cm margins.  Depending upon the dermatologist, they may or may not offer in house procedures.  I have had at least 8 WLEs (wide local excisions) and all of mine were done as office procedures.  However, others with the same type of lesions have had a surgical procedure.  I consider the WLE just an inconvenience done under a local.  I would not want one done in the hospital.  So if your derm won't do it, another derm or plastic surgeon might.  As long as you have no other serious health worries, there is no reason not to have it in an office setting.

0.29mm, Stage 1A. . I think it's usually 1cm margins, not 2cm, for the WLE.  I had a Stage 1A on my back, I did not get any skin graft.  The margins my surgeon took were 1cm. 

You do not need the lymph node mapping.  That isn't done for stage IA.  It is a surgical procedure that would be done under general anesthesia in a hospital setting.  You DO need the wide excision.  This most often is an office procedure.  Surgical removal of melanoma is the best treatment.  A stage I lesion should have 1cm margins around the primary.  Your shave biopsy is unlikely to achieve 1cm margins.  Depending upon the dermatologist, they may or may not offer in house procedures.  I have had at least 8 WLEs (wide local excisions) and all of mine were done as office procedures.  However, others with the same type of lesions have had a surgical procedure.  I consider the WLE just an inconvenience done under a local.  I would not want one done in the hospital.  So if your derm won't do it, another derm or plastic surgeon might.  As long as you have no other serious health worries, there is no reason not to have it in an office setting.

You do not need the lymph node mapping.  That isn't done for stage IA.  It is a surgical procedure that would be done under general anesthesia in a hospital setting.  You DO need the wide excision.  This most often is an office procedure.  Surgical removal of melanoma is the best treatment.  A stage I lesion should have 1cm margins around the primary.  Your shave biopsy is unlikely to achieve 1cm margins.  Depending upon the dermatologist, they may or may not offer in house procedures.  I have had at least 8 WLEs (wide local excisions) and all of mine were done as office procedures.  However, others with the same type of lesions have had a surgical procedure.  I consider the WLE just an inconvenience done under a local.  I would not want one done in the hospital.  So if your derm won't do it, another derm or plastic surgeon might.  As long as you have no other serious health worries, there is no reason not to have it in an office setting.

0.29mm, Stage 1A. . I think it's usually 1cm margins, not 2cm, for the WLE.  I had a Stage 1A on my back, I did not get any skin graft.  The margins my surgeon took were 1cm. 

0.29mm, Stage 1A. . I think it's usually 1cm margins, not 2cm, for the WLE.  I had a Stage 1A on my back, I did not get any skin graft.  The margins my surgeon took were 1cm.