› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Need help understanding my pathology report
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Tim–MRF.
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- September 21, 2012 at 4:43 pm
Hello all,
I was diagnosed with Melanoma In Situ on my left thigh in July this year. I would like to know the intricacies of Melanoma and have been doing a lot of my own research. I need help understanding what exactly my pathology report means. Here is what it said:
Hello all,
I was diagnosed with Melanoma In Situ on my left thigh in July this year. I would like to know the intricacies of Melanoma and have been doing a lot of my own research. I need help understanding what exactly my pathology report means. Here is what it said:
Concern over the possibility of continuous junctional colonization by melanocytes over a significant expanse (image 2) fueled by observation of a fe high level pagetoid melanocytes, recommended acquiring the block for a well controlled MART-1 immunohistochemical reaction to be prepared here at WDS/CCPL, together with deeper sections.
The haphazard scatter of pathologic melanocytes along the junction with zones of continuity is accompanied by prominent high level pagetoid melanocytes, forcing a malignant interpretation.
That last sentence is the one I am not fully understanding. I appreciate any help anyone can give.
Thank you!
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- September 21, 2012 at 10:43 pm
I am not a doctor, nor an expert on pathology, but will make a couple of comments.
Melanocytes are normal cells that, among other things, produce the pigment that results in tan, moles, etc. Pagetoid means that the melanocytes are spreading up into the epidermis, rather than down into the deeper layer of tissues. There is some question about how significant this phenomena is in diagnosing cancer. Generally melanocytes shouldn't spread, but does spreading into the epidermis mean that they are beginning to act in a malignant fashion? Melanoma is name for malignant melanocytes. So, if you have pagetoid melanocytes does that mean you have melanoma? Traditional thinging has been "yes". but some studies have also shown that pagetoid melanocytes can occur in benign nevi. Some argue that the location and formation of these migrating cells is the distinguishing factor.
Given this, it is better to err on the side of caution.
The fact that your melanoma is staged as in situ is great. When caught at this stage it is almost universally cured through simple surgery.
Tim–MRF
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- September 21, 2012 at 10:43 pm
I am not a doctor, nor an expert on pathology, but will make a couple of comments.
Melanocytes are normal cells that, among other things, produce the pigment that results in tan, moles, etc. Pagetoid means that the melanocytes are spreading up into the epidermis, rather than down into the deeper layer of tissues. There is some question about how significant this phenomena is in diagnosing cancer. Generally melanocytes shouldn't spread, but does spreading into the epidermis mean that they are beginning to act in a malignant fashion? Melanoma is name for malignant melanocytes. So, if you have pagetoid melanocytes does that mean you have melanoma? Traditional thinging has been "yes". but some studies have also shown that pagetoid melanocytes can occur in benign nevi. Some argue that the location and formation of these migrating cells is the distinguishing factor.
Given this, it is better to err on the side of caution.
The fact that your melanoma is staged as in situ is great. When caught at this stage it is almost universally cured through simple surgery.
Tim–MRF
-
- September 21, 2012 at 10:43 pm
I am not a doctor, nor an expert on pathology, but will make a couple of comments.
Melanocytes are normal cells that, among other things, produce the pigment that results in tan, moles, etc. Pagetoid means that the melanocytes are spreading up into the epidermis, rather than down into the deeper layer of tissues. There is some question about how significant this phenomena is in diagnosing cancer. Generally melanocytes shouldn't spread, but does spreading into the epidermis mean that they are beginning to act in a malignant fashion? Melanoma is name for malignant melanocytes. So, if you have pagetoid melanocytes does that mean you have melanoma? Traditional thinging has been "yes". but some studies have also shown that pagetoid melanocytes can occur in benign nevi. Some argue that the location and formation of these migrating cells is the distinguishing factor.
Given this, it is better to err on the side of caution.
The fact that your melanoma is staged as in situ is great. When caught at this stage it is almost universally cured through simple surgery.
Tim–MRF
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