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Need help with results

Forums General Melanoma Community Need help with results

  • Post
    Nicky
    Participant

      Hi everyone.  I've got my test results back which are below and I need your input as far as the regression aspect is concerned.  This is my third primary melanoma, the 1st one was a in situ melanoma (not 100% sure if there was regression with this one or not) 11 years ago, and this mole or an unknown primary nine months later metastised to my groin lymph node, (Stage III).  6 years ago I also had a 3.55 millimetre desmoplastic melanoma – no regression

      The latest one is as detailed below

      Clinical Details

      Hi everyone.  I've got my test results back which are below and I need your input as far as the regression aspect is concerned.  This is my third primary melanoma, the 1st one was a in situ melanoma (not 100% sure if there was regression with this one or not) 11 years ago, and this mole or an unknown primary nine months later metastised to my groin lymph node, (Stage III).  6 years ago I also had a 3.55 millimetre desmoplastic melanoma – no regression

      The latest one is as detailed below

      Clinical Details

      Dysplastic Naevus

      Macroscopic

      The specimen is an elliptical excision of skin measuring 15 x 8 x 5 mm.  On the surface, there is a pigmented lesion measuring 9 x6 mm. 3 transverse sections .(pa)

      Microscopic

      This lesion is a Level 1 (in situ) superficial spreading malignant melanoma.  This has arisen within a dysplastic naevus. There is no evidence of ulceration or dermal invasion.  Mild changes of regression are present.  The mitotic rate is low (<1/mm square).  No satellite lesions are present.  The close peripheral margin is 1.3 mmm

      summary

      Left upper back:  Levl 1 (in situ) superficial spreading malignant Melanoma.

      My question is the regression aspect.  i don't understand if this is a good sign or not.  Does it mean that it may have been deeper and my immune system is finally recognising it, or does it mean something else?

       

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    • Replies
        MichaelFL
        Participant

          Regression is evidence of destruction of some of the melanoma cells caused by immune factors. In relation to your question. it depends on which doctor you ask, as some say that it is good as your body (immune system) was attacking the melanoma cells, while others say It is a weakly negative factor in prognosis because the tumor may actually have been deeper. 

          When the pathologist sees an area of a melanoma under the microscope in which the expected melanoma cells are absent and immune cells (lymphocytes) are present, the observation of "regression" is made. Pathologists can sometimes "see" regression as white/pink areas within the brown-black melanoma.

          In some studies, having regression is a weakly negative prognostic factor. In other studies it seems not to matter.

          Yours says mild regression, so it would seem that would be in your favor.

          Michael

            MichaelFL
            Participant

              Oh, and here is a study you might like to read. 🙂

              It involves 146 melanoma patients that had a SNB, and they felt it was favorable concerning having regression in thin melanomas.

              http://jcp.bmj.com/content/early/2007/08/03/jcp.2007.049411.abstract

              Conclusion: Our findings suggest that regression is usually a favourable process particularly in thin melanomas and that metastasis in "thin melanomas showing regression" is real but rare. Variant vertical growth phase , mitoses and other prognostically significant variables may be more important predictors of metastatic potential in thin melanomas.

              Michael

              Nicky
              Participant

                Thanks for your help MichaelFL.  I really appreciate it.

                 

                Nicky
                Participant

                  Thanks for your help MichaelFL.  I really appreciate it.

                   

                  MichaelFL
                  Participant

                    Oh, and here is a study you might like to read. 🙂

                    It involves 146 melanoma patients that had a SNB, and they felt it was favorable concerning having regression in thin melanomas.

                    http://jcp.bmj.com/content/early/2007/08/03/jcp.2007.049411.abstract

                    Conclusion: Our findings suggest that regression is usually a favourable process particularly in thin melanomas and that metastasis in "thin melanomas showing regression" is real but rare. Variant vertical growth phase , mitoses and other prognostically significant variables may be more important predictors of metastatic potential in thin melanomas.

                    Michael

                  MichaelFL
                  Participant

                    Regression is evidence of destruction of some of the melanoma cells caused by immune factors. In relation to your question. it depends on which doctor you ask, as some say that it is good as your body (immune system) was attacking the melanoma cells, while others say It is a weakly negative factor in prognosis because the tumor may actually have been deeper. 

                    When the pathologist sees an area of a melanoma under the microscope in which the expected melanoma cells are absent and immune cells (lymphocytes) are present, the observation of "regression" is made. Pathologists can sometimes "see" regression as white/pink areas within the brown-black melanoma.

                    In some studies, having regression is a weakly negative prognostic factor. In other studies it seems not to matter.

                    Yours says mild regression, so it would seem that would be in your favor.

                    Michael

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