Superficial spreading in-situ Melanoma

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    • September 30, 2014 at 12:47 pm
    AusLoveBug
    Participant

      Hi all,

      I'm a 36y.o. Female from Australia. I know I've been very lucky in catching my Melanoma early, I was just hoping someone could put my biopsy report into layman terms for me, for my own understanding. I have to have more skin cut out tomorrow to be certain it's all gone. The part that worries me is that it seems like it was right on the margin & things I've read online say things like, when too close to the margin, cells can be pushed further in. I refuse to google anymore as I'll just make myself paranoid.

      My story goes: I noticed a mole on the back of my shoulder that I just couldn't recall noticing before. I wasn't sure if it was new, or was something that was always there just incognito or if I'd seen it a million times but not actually paid attention. I went to the doc as I had a nagging feeling that something wasn't right but even my GP thought it was ok but suggested removing it & checking it anyway if I wanted to. Funnily enough, I said "Can you just take it out as even if it's ok now, it looks like the kind of thing that may be a problem later"… There was nothing overly suspicious looking, it was flat, 5x5mm, but it did have a paler colour in the middle – but that feeling kept nagging away so I trusted my instincts. Whew!

      The microscopic examination: Level 1 superficial spreading in-situ melanoma. Nests of atypical epithelioid & spindled melanocytes at the dermal epidermal junction. There is lateral confluence of nests & there is confluent growth of single melanocytes along the junction extending along adnexal structures. There is limited upward drift. There is a dense superficial chronic inflammatory infiltrate, consistent with early regression. There is no dermal component. Lesion lies 0.2mm from the nearest lateral margin.

      So I know it's only in the top layer of skin & all should be ok, at least for this one, I just want to know what all that stuff is explaining. Could someone help me?

       

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        • September 30, 2014 at 2:38 pm
        Janner
        Participant

          Sorry you had to join us here, but melanoma in situ is where you want to be if you are here.

          Honestly, there is no point in analyzing your path report line by line.  This is basically the description of your lesion that justifies the final diagnosis for the lesion.  Each aspect isn't more good or bad than the next, just the accumulation of factors that lead to the final diagnosis.  "There is no dermal component" basically means that all things were confined to the epidermis, hence the in situ diagnosis.

          As for margins, I have no idea what you were reading, but none of it applies.  You had clear margins, but not big enough margins according to standard protocols for today.  Clear margins are good.  So have the WLE and move on.  Be vigilant, but not paranoid!

          • September 30, 2014 at 2:38 pm
          Janner
          Participant

            Sorry you had to join us here, but melanoma in situ is where you want to be if you are here.

            Honestly, there is no point in analyzing your path report line by line.  This is basically the description of your lesion that justifies the final diagnosis for the lesion.  Each aspect isn't more good or bad than the next, just the accumulation of factors that lead to the final diagnosis.  "There is no dermal component" basically means that all things were confined to the epidermis, hence the in situ diagnosis.

            As for margins, I have no idea what you were reading, but none of it applies.  You had clear margins, but not big enough margins according to standard protocols for today.  Clear margins are good.  So have the WLE and move on.  Be vigilant, but not paranoid!

            • September 30, 2014 at 2:38 pm
            Janner
            Participant

              Sorry you had to join us here, but melanoma in situ is where you want to be if you are here.

              Honestly, there is no point in analyzing your path report line by line.  This is basically the description of your lesion that justifies the final diagnosis for the lesion.  Each aspect isn't more good or bad than the next, just the accumulation of factors that lead to the final diagnosis.  "There is no dermal component" basically means that all things were confined to the epidermis, hence the in situ diagnosis.

              As for margins, I have no idea what you were reading, but none of it applies.  You had clear margins, but not big enough margins according to standard protocols for today.  Clear margins are good.  So have the WLE and move on.  Be vigilant, but not paranoid!

                • September 30, 2014 at 9:30 pm
                AusLoveBug
                Participant

                  Ok, that's good – Thanks for the reply. 🙂

                   

                  • September 30, 2014 at 9:30 pm
                  AusLoveBug
                  Participant

                    Ok, that's good – Thanks for the reply. 🙂

                     

                    • September 30, 2014 at 9:30 pm
                    AusLoveBug
                    Participant

                      Ok, that's good – Thanks for the reply. 🙂

                       

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