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melanoma in situ pathology report
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melanoma in situ pathology report

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › melanoma in situ pathology report

  • Post
    • March 13, 2013 at 3:19 am
    nancy mary
    Participant
      Hi.
      I have a question about my path report.
      from what i,ve read mine does not include mention of most of the item talked about or read about
      Online. It is from Columbia dermatpathology NYC.
      It reads: ” I interpret this as in situ melanoma, possibly arising in a dysplastic nevis.
      The lesion extends to one peripheral margin in the plane of bisection.”
      This was ashave biopsy.
      Micro: the specimen is bisected and shows confluent junctional melanocytic nests as well as many
      Single melanocytes extending upward within the epidermis.

      Is this sufficient? I,m puzzled that thi eas all that was written.
      Appreciate your opinions. Thanks.

    Viewing 2 reply threads
    • Replies
        • March 13, 2013 at 3:46 pm
        Tim–MRF
        Guest

          I am not an expert at path reports, and others may have better insight.  Here is what I see:

          I believe the report is saying that you had an atypical mole (dysplastic nevus) that shares some characteristics with melanoma.  These kinds of moles are more likely that normal moles to evolve into melanoma.  The shave biopsy shows some activity suggesting the nevus has begun to change into something more worrisome.

          The good news is that it is a melanoma in situ, the very earliest stage at which a melanoma can be found.  Some people don't consider this to be melanoma but rather a pre-melanoma condition.  The bad news is that the shave biopsy, if I read this report correctly, cut through the lesion. ("…the lesion extends to one peripheral margin….")  In other words, it reads to me as though they didn't remove all of the lesion.  

          I don't know that a path report for such a lesion would include more robust information.  Mitotic rate and depth may not be reported, though I might have thought that depth would be.  

          The vast majority of melanoma in situ lesions are removed and you never have to worry about it again.  i would, however, ask your doctor about not having clean margins.  You may need to have further surgery to remove more tissue.

          Again, I am not a doctor or particularly adept at reading path reports, but that is my read on it.

          Tim–MRF

            • March 13, 2013 at 6:12 pm
            nancy mary
            Participant
              Thankyou Tim.
              A WLE was recommended and i had that done February6th.

              A second wide excision for another larger ” junctional nevis” on
              The buttock area after a full body screen was done after the in situ lesion.
              I appreciate your time and insight.
              Best,
              Nancy

              • March 14, 2013 at 1:47 pm
              Cooper
              Participant

                InSitu lesion would not have a depth or mitotic rate.  A reexcision is a good idea since this was a shave biopsy. The pathology was done at a good place so you can be fairly secure about that.  Good luck!

                • March 15, 2013 at 1:08 am
                nancy mary
                Participant

                  Thank you for this information.  It helps me understand things better and also feel more confident about the lab.

                  Nancy Mary

                  • March 15, 2013 at 1:08 am
                  nancy mary
                  Participant

                    Thank you for this information.  It helps me understand things better and also feel more confident about the lab.

                    Nancy Mary

                    • March 15, 2013 at 1:08 am
                    nancy mary
                    Participant

                      Thank you for this information.  It helps me understand things better and also feel more confident about the lab.

                      Nancy Mary

                      • March 14, 2013 at 1:47 pm
                      Cooper
                      Participant

                        InSitu lesion would not have a depth or mitotic rate.  A reexcision is a good idea since this was a shave biopsy. The pathology was done at a good place so you can be fairly secure about that.  Good luck!

                        • March 14, 2013 at 1:47 pm
                        Cooper
                        Participant

                          InSitu lesion would not have a depth or mitotic rate.  A reexcision is a good idea since this was a shave biopsy. The pathology was done at a good place so you can be fairly secure about that.  Good luck!

                          • March 13, 2013 at 6:12 pm
                          nancy mary
                          Participant
                            Thankyou Tim.
                            A WLE was recommended and i had that done February6th.

                            A second wide excision for another larger ” junctional nevis” on
                            The buttock area after a full body screen was done after the in situ lesion.
                            I appreciate your time and insight.
                            Best,
                            Nancy

                            • March 13, 2013 at 6:12 pm
                            nancy mary
                            Participant
                              Thankyou Tim.
                              A WLE was recommended and i had that done February6th.

                              A second wide excision for another larger ” junctional nevis” on
                              The buttock area after a full body screen was done after the in situ lesion.
                              I appreciate your time and insight.
                              Best,
                              Nancy

                            • March 13, 2013 at 3:46 pm
                            Tim–MRF
                            Guest

                              I am not an expert at path reports, and others may have better insight.  Here is what I see:

                              I believe the report is saying that you had an atypical mole (dysplastic nevus) that shares some characteristics with melanoma.  These kinds of moles are more likely that normal moles to evolve into melanoma.  The shave biopsy shows some activity suggesting the nevus has begun to change into something more worrisome.

                              The good news is that it is a melanoma in situ, the very earliest stage at which a melanoma can be found.  Some people don't consider this to be melanoma but rather a pre-melanoma condition.  The bad news is that the shave biopsy, if I read this report correctly, cut through the lesion. ("…the lesion extends to one peripheral margin….")  In other words, it reads to me as though they didn't remove all of the lesion.  

                              I don't know that a path report for such a lesion would include more robust information.  Mitotic rate and depth may not be reported, though I might have thought that depth would be.  

                              The vast majority of melanoma in situ lesions are removed and you never have to worry about it again.  i would, however, ask your doctor about not having clean margins.  You may need to have further surgery to remove more tissue.

                              Again, I am not a doctor or particularly adept at reading path reports, but that is my read on it.

                              Tim–MRF

                              • March 13, 2013 at 3:46 pm
                              Tim–MRF
                              Guest

                                I am not an expert at path reports, and others may have better insight.  Here is what I see:

                                I believe the report is saying that you had an atypical mole (dysplastic nevus) that shares some characteristics with melanoma.  These kinds of moles are more likely that normal moles to evolve into melanoma.  The shave biopsy shows some activity suggesting the nevus has begun to change into something more worrisome.

                                The good news is that it is a melanoma in situ, the very earliest stage at which a melanoma can be found.  Some people don't consider this to be melanoma but rather a pre-melanoma condition.  The bad news is that the shave biopsy, if I read this report correctly, cut through the lesion. ("…the lesion extends to one peripheral margin….")  In other words, it reads to me as though they didn't remove all of the lesion.  

                                I don't know that a path report for such a lesion would include more robust information.  Mitotic rate and depth may not be reported, though I might have thought that depth would be.  

                                The vast majority of melanoma in situ lesions are removed and you never have to worry about it again.  i would, however, ask your doctor about not having clean margins.  You may need to have further surgery to remove more tissue.

                                Again, I am not a doctor or particularly adept at reading path reports, but that is my read on it.

                                Tim–MRF

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