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Ultrasound Guided FNA/possible core biopsy of lymph node lesion
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Ultrasound Guided FNA/possible core biopsy of lymph node lesion

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Ultrasound Guided FNA/possible core biopsy of lymph node lesion

  • Post
    • August 23, 2011 at 2:05 pm
    alicia
    Participant

      Hey everyone just updating what's new.  I had an ultrasound of my lymph nodes in both groins where some of the nodes contained a hypoechoic lesion concerning for melanoma metastatic deposit.  Since the surgical oncologist can actually see this within the nodes he's set me up for an ultrasound guided biopsy this thur at VAndy.  Has anyone else had an enlarged lymph node or nodes that contained a "lesion" in the node that was visible by ultrasound?

      Hey everyone just updating what's new.  I had an ultrasound of my lymph nodes in both groins where some of the nodes contained a hypoechoic lesion concerning for melanoma metastatic deposit.  Since the surgical oncologist can actually see this within the nodes he's set me up for an ultrasound guided biopsy this thur at VAndy.  Has anyone else had an enlarged lymph node or nodes that contained a "lesion" in the node that was visible by ultrasound?  Crazy thing is I had a clean PET scan done 2 mo ago but these hypoechoic areas in the nodes are just now right at 1cm in size and were not there 2 mo ago.  Thanks so much for your support and knowlege on this disease.

       

      Much love,

      Alicia STage 3a w/ 3 primaries

    Viewing 5 reply threads
    • Replies
        • August 23, 2011 at 5:13 pm
        lhaley
        Participant

          I could feel the node in my arm, the PET showed it to be nothing. Went for an ultrasound and it was thought to be a blood clot. 1 month later I went for a follow up ultrasound and it had grown 1mm. They did the FNA and got metastic cells.  When the surgery was set up they did another PET scan. This time it was large enough to show. 

          Good luck and let us know the results! 

          Linda

            • August 23, 2011 at 5:36 pm
            alicia
            Participant
              Thanks so much Linda!!! I’ll update as soon as I know the results. How long did it take for you to get your results back?
              • August 23, 2011 at 6:23 pm
              lhaley
              Participant

                That particular FNA was done locally and it took a week.  My last one (which was negative) was done in the cancer center and it took 2 days.  My oncologist still felt it was going to be mel so it was then excised and those results were also about 2 days – still negative!  It was worrisome because this node was just inches away from my last malignant node. Ended up being fatty tissue.

                • August 23, 2011 at 6:23 pm
                lhaley
                Participant

                  That particular FNA was done locally and it took a week.  My last one (which was negative) was done in the cancer center and it took 2 days.  My oncologist still felt it was going to be mel so it was then excised and those results were also about 2 days – still negative!  It was worrisome because this node was just inches away from my last malignant node. Ended up being fatty tissue.

                  • August 23, 2011 at 5:36 pm
                  alicia
                  Participant
                    Thanks so much Linda!!! I’ll update as soon as I know the results. How long did it take for you to get your results back?
                  • August 23, 2011 at 5:13 pm
                  lhaley
                  Participant

                    I could feel the node in my arm, the PET showed it to be nothing. Went for an ultrasound and it was thought to be a blood clot. 1 month later I went for a follow up ultrasound and it had grown 1mm. They did the FNA and got metastic cells.  When the surgery was set up they did another PET scan. This time it was large enough to show. 

                    Good luck and let us know the results! 

                    Linda

                    • August 24, 2011 at 10:46 am
                    FormerCaregiver
                    Participant

                      Alicia, I would just like to say a bit about PET scans. In general, they are not good at picking up very small areas of metastasis. They are basically designed to show areas of high metabolic activity that could indicate a malignant tumour. Any suspicious areas are then usually checked against what is shown on a corresponding CT scan. However, a biopsy is the most accurate way of identifying if a lesion is melanoma.

                      Wishing you good luck with the biopsy results. 

                      Frank from Australia

                        • August 24, 2011 at 1:51 pm
                        alicia
                        Participant
                          Thanks so much Frank and Linda!!!! I truly appreciate you all xoxox:0)

                          Much love,
                          Alicia

                          • August 24, 2011 at 1:51 pm
                          alicia
                          Participant
                            Thanks so much Frank and Linda!!!! I truly appreciate you all xoxox:0)

                            Much love,
                            Alicia

                          • August 24, 2011 at 10:46 am
                          FormerCaregiver
                          Participant

                            Alicia, I would just like to say a bit about PET scans. In general, they are not good at picking up very small areas of metastasis. They are basically designed to show areas of high metabolic activity that could indicate a malignant tumour. Any suspicious areas are then usually checked against what is shown on a corresponding CT scan. However, a biopsy is the most accurate way of identifying if a lesion is melanoma.

                            Wishing you good luck with the biopsy results. 

                            Frank from Australia

                            • August 25, 2011 at 5:54 am
                            JerryfromFauq
                            Participant

                              Alicia, the problem with FNA's is that it totally depends on hitting the right cells with the little needle.  Soometiimes they hit the spot, sometimes they don't.  I have had a couple of FNA's attempted by different people at different locations.  They were all inconclusive.

                                I had a PET scan of my groin in which they said there was no uptake shown on the PET.  I asked my surgeon to remove the growiing lump within the month.  He did and the melanoma tumor was the size  of the last joint of my little finger.  PETs are famous for both false negatives and false positives.  i will note that is would be unusual for both sides of the groin to have melanoma in the nodes at the same time.  Has CT scans shown any growth in the size of the "spots?"

                                • August 26, 2011 at 4:40 am
                                alicia
                                Participant
                                  Thanks Jerry:) I just got home from Vandy a couple hrs ago. The radiologist did a core biopsy of 3 lymph nodes. One was in my left axillary region and then one in each of my deep femoral nodes. The axillary lymph node was enlarged and the other two groin nodes had an actual lesion that he took a core sample from. I should know results early next week. Im just so glad it’s now finally over!!!! They took 4 samples from each node so hopefully they should
                                  Get a good reading from the tissue;)

                                  Much love,
                                  Alicia

                                  • August 26, 2011 at 5:06 am
                                  JerryfromFauq
                                  Participant

                                    Waiting with you for those results. 

                                    • August 26, 2011 at 5:06 am
                                    JerryfromFauq
                                    Participant

                                      Waiting with you for those results. 

                                      • August 26, 2011 at 4:40 am
                                      alicia
                                      Participant
                                        Thanks Jerry:) I just got home from Vandy a couple hrs ago. The radiologist did a core biopsy of 3 lymph nodes. One was in my left axillary region and then one in each of my deep femoral nodes. The axillary lymph node was enlarged and the other two groin nodes had an actual lesion that he took a core sample from. I should know results early next week. Im just so glad it’s now finally over!!!! They took 4 samples from each node so hopefully they should
                                        Get a good reading from the tissue;)

                                        Much love,
                                        Alicia

                                      • August 25, 2011 at 5:54 am
                                      JerryfromFauq
                                      Participant

                                        Alicia, the problem with FNA's is that it totally depends on hitting the right cells with the little needle.  Soometiimes they hit the spot, sometimes they don't.  I have had a couple of FNA's attempted by different people at different locations.  They were all inconclusive.

                                          I had a PET scan of my groin in which they said there was no uptake shown on the PET.  I asked my surgeon to remove the growiing lump within the month.  He did and the melanoma tumor was the size  of the last joint of my little finger.  PETs are famous for both false negatives and false positives.  i will note that is would be unusual for both sides of the groin to have melanoma in the nodes at the same time.  Has CT scans shown any growth in the size of the "spots?"

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