Finally got a copy of my original pathology report..
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Finally got a copy of my original pathology report..

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Finally got a copy of my original pathology report..

  • Post
    • March 22, 2012 at 2:54 am
    kelsta78
    Participant

    Hi all

    Just wondering if anyone can help me out.  I got a copy of my original report and thought I would share if here to get some opinions. 

    Hi all

    Just wondering if anyone can help me out.  I got a copy of my original report and thought I would share if here to get some opinions. 

    "Sections show Malignant Melanoma, Clark level IV, Breslow thickness 1.0mm.  There is pinpoint spot of ulceration measuring 0.1mm.  There i no vascular space or perineural invasion, no sesmoplasia, and no satellitosis.  Tumour infiltrating lymphocytes are present and there i no intermediate/late regression.  The mitotic rate of dermal invasive melanoma is 2 per mm.  There is evidence of an asoicated dysplastic juntional naevo-melanocytic lesion.  Excision of the lesion appears complete with the nearest peripheral margin to in-situ melanoma being 2.2mm, the nearest peripheral margin to the invasive component 2.5mm, the distance of in-situ melanoma extending down a pilosebaceous unit to the deep margin 3mm and the distance from the dermal invasive tumour to the deep margin 3.5mm".

    I don't think my doctor even understood it very well as he has underlined half of it and wrote a question mark beside it!  This being the same doctor that told me there was nothing wrong with the mole and it didn't need to be taken out (thank god I insisted).

    All I really understand is that it was 1mm thick and ulcerated.  So can anyone shed light on the rest of the report?

    So far I have had the wide excision done and results were clear from that.  I am booked in for mole mapping in a few weeks time.  I go back to the surgeon on 4th of April for a check up of the area and he said he will organise a PET scan in a few months time.  I do wonder why wait? 

    Thanks in advance.

Viewing 11 reply threads
  • Replies
      • March 22, 2012 at 5:18 am
      FormerCaregiver
      Participant

      Thanks for posting the details of your pathology report. I feel that the most important
      prognostic indicator is the depth of the primary tumour.

      For details about Breslow thickness:
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breslow%27s_depth

      For info on Clark's level:
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breslow%27s_depth#Clark.27s_level

      Here is some detailed info about stages of melanoma:
      http://cancerhelp.cancerresearchuk.org/type/melanoma/treatment/stages-of-melanoma

      PET scans are not good at detecting very small melanoma tumours, and this could be a
      reason for waiting a few months.

      Hope this helps

      Frank from Australia   

      • March 22, 2012 at 5:18 am
      FormerCaregiver
      Participant

      Thanks for posting the details of your pathology report. I feel that the most important
      prognostic indicator is the depth of the primary tumour.

      For details about Breslow thickness:
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breslow%27s_depth

      For info on Clark's level:
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breslow%27s_depth#Clark.27s_level

      Here is some detailed info about stages of melanoma:
      http://cancerhelp.cancerresearchuk.org/type/melanoma/treatment/stages-of-melanoma

      PET scans are not good at detecting very small melanoma tumours, and this could be a
      reason for waiting a few months.

      Hope this helps

      Frank from Australia   

      • March 22, 2012 at 5:18 am
      FormerCaregiver
      Participant

      Thanks for posting the details of your pathology report. I feel that the most important
      prognostic indicator is the depth of the primary tumour.

      For details about Breslow thickness:
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breslow%27s_depth

      For info on Clark's level:
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breslow%27s_depth#Clark.27s_level

      Here is some detailed info about stages of melanoma:
      http://cancerhelp.cancerresearchuk.org/type/melanoma/treatment/stages-of-melanoma

      PET scans are not good at detecting very small melanoma tumours, and this could be a
      reason for waiting a few months.

      Hope this helps

      Frank from Australia   

        • March 22, 2012 at 5:55 am
        kelsta78
        Participant

        Thanks Frank.  I am in south west Qld, going to Brisbane to get the mole mapping done in a few weeks.

        • March 22, 2012 at 5:55 am
        kelsta78
        Participant

        Thanks Frank.  I am in south west Qld, going to Brisbane to get the mole mapping done in a few weeks.

        • March 22, 2012 at 5:55 am
        kelsta78
        Participant

        Thanks Frank.  I am in south west Qld, going to Brisbane to get the mole mapping done in a few weeks.

      • March 22, 2012 at 12:13 pm
      MichaelFL
      Participant

      I am guessing here, but I am betting this doctor was not a dermatologist as they were way wrong on this. At 1.0 MM depth and mentioning ulceration, a SNB or sentinel node biopsy should also be considered.

      You need to find a melanoma center and get a second opinion before continuing.

      A PET will  only find macroscopic not microscopic tumors

      • March 22, 2012 at 12:13 pm
      MichaelFL
      Participant

      I am guessing here, but I am betting this doctor was not a dermatologist as they were way wrong on this. At 1.0 MM depth and mentioning ulceration, a SNB or sentinel node biopsy should also be considered.

      You need to find a melanoma center and get a second opinion before continuing.

      A PET will  only find macroscopic not microscopic tumors

      • March 22, 2012 at 12:13 pm
      MichaelFL
      Participant

      I am guessing here, but I am betting this doctor was not a dermatologist as they were way wrong on this. At 1.0 MM depth and mentioning ulceration, a SNB or sentinel node biopsy should also be considered.

      You need to find a melanoma center and get a second opinion before continuing.

      A PET will  only find macroscopic not microscopic tumors

      • March 23, 2012 at 4:13 pm
      palmspringswalt
      Participant

      I'm sure many of us wish our path reports were as good as the one you posted.  Any melanoma can be tricky stuff so carefully weigh how agreesive or conservative treatment you have.  I too would urge you to get a second opionion at a major melanoma center (not just an area hospital that posts melanoma on their website).  It is well worth the money even if you pay for it yourself.  In my case my HMO refused to pay, I appealed, they denied, medicare overruled and forced them to pay.  Of course, I did not wait for the consult but carried on the insurance fight later.  You have a high probability of a good outcome.  This site has been very helpful to me….I would encourage you to keep reading it even though the subject may not be the most exciting!  Good Luck!!

      • March 23, 2012 at 4:13 pm
      palmspringswalt
      Participant

      I'm sure many of us wish our path reports were as good as the one you posted.  Any melanoma can be tricky stuff so carefully weigh how agreesive or conservative treatment you have.  I too would urge you to get a second opionion at a major melanoma center (not just an area hospital that posts melanoma on their website).  It is well worth the money even if you pay for it yourself.  In my case my HMO refused to pay, I appealed, they denied, medicare overruled and forced them to pay.  Of course, I did not wait for the consult but carried on the insurance fight later.  You have a high probability of a good outcome.  This site has been very helpful to me….I would encourage you to keep reading it even though the subject may not be the most exciting!  Good Luck!!

      • March 23, 2012 at 4:13 pm
      palmspringswalt
      Participant

      I'm sure many of us wish our path reports were as good as the one you posted.  Any melanoma can be tricky stuff so carefully weigh how agreesive or conservative treatment you have.  I too would urge you to get a second opionion at a major melanoma center (not just an area hospital that posts melanoma on their website).  It is well worth the money even if you pay for it yourself.  In my case my HMO refused to pay, I appealed, they denied, medicare overruled and forced them to pay.  Of course, I did not wait for the consult but carried on the insurance fight later.  You have a high probability of a good outcome.  This site has been very helpful to me….I would encourage you to keep reading it even though the subject may not be the most exciting!  Good Luck!!

      • March 23, 2012 at 5:22 pm
      blairashley
      Participant

      I would suggest a second opinion…  Sounds like a sentinel node biopsy might be appropriate…  Better safe than sorry!

      • March 23, 2012 at 5:22 pm
      blairashley
      Participant

      I would suggest a second opinion…  Sounds like a sentinel node biopsy might be appropriate…  Better safe than sorry!

      • March 23, 2012 at 5:22 pm
      blairashley
      Participant

      I would suggest a second opinion…  Sounds like a sentinel node biopsy might be appropriate…  Better safe than sorry!

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