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Pathology Report – question – microsatellites
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Pathology Report – question – microsatellites

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Pathology Report – question – microsatellites

  • Post
    • January 21, 2017 at 5:28 am
    Marksa2570
    Participant

      hello… I was recently diagnosed with melanoma – .25 breslow, clarks level III.   Brisk infilatrate, no ulceratrion or lymphovascular invasion and 0 mitosis.    

      My question is… it also says – "intrepidermal atypical melanocytes arranged in nests and singly at the dermoepidermal junction and extending focally into the dermis as two small nests and microsatellite individual cells.  There are single melanocytes present above the junction displaying pagetoid spread".  

      In reading I've seen things that say microsatellites could negatively affect my prognosis and reflect a more aggressive melanoma.   

      When diagnosed, my doctor said this was – relatively speaking – not a bad situation – and the recommended treatment was only WLE.   Based upon the Breslow, I've been assuming I am 1A.  

      Would microsatellites affect my staging and should I have any additional concerns?  (the Clarks Level III for such a thin melanoma has always bugged me but I read that level is subjective)   

      Thank you.      

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    • Replies
        • January 21, 2017 at 6:09 pm
        ed williams
        Participant

          Hi Anon, I will try to help you out as much as possible until someone with more early staging back ground posts. I have a video for you from one of the best in the field in pathology from Boston (Harvard medical school) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wmeyNjFKQw   If you go to the 30min mark he gets into Factors associated with aggression in thin Melanomas. At the 35min mark he talks about satellites. The whole video is really impressive but super detailed, I had to watch it a couple of times to understand it. Best Wishes!!!Ed

          • January 21, 2017 at 6:09 pm
          ed williams
          Participant

            Hi Anon, I will try to help you out as much as possible until someone with more early staging back ground posts. I have a video for you from one of the best in the field in pathology from Boston (Harvard medical school) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wmeyNjFKQw   If you go to the 30min mark he gets into Factors associated with aggression in thin Melanomas. At the 35min mark he talks about satellites. The whole video is really impressive but super detailed, I had to watch it a couple of times to understand it. Best Wishes!!!Ed

            • January 21, 2017 at 6:09 pm
            ed williams
            Participant

              Hi Anon, I will try to help you out as much as possible until someone with more early staging back ground posts. I have a video for you from one of the best in the field in pathology from Boston (Harvard medical school) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wmeyNjFKQw   If you go to the 30min mark he gets into Factors associated with aggression in thin Melanomas. At the 35min mark he talks about satellites. The whole video is really impressive but super detailed, I had to watch it a couple of times to understand it. Best Wishes!!!Ed

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