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Breast Cancer (Expert Forum)
biopsy opinion?
Questions posted in the Breast Cancer Forum are answered by medical professionals from The Cleveland Clinic. Topics include Breast Biopsy, Chemotherapy, Hormone Therapy, Lumps, Lumpectomy, Lymph node dissection, Lymphedema, Mammograms, Mastectomy, Radiation Therapy, Reconstruction, Self Breast Exam, and Surgery.
biopsy opinion?
by whyizzit, Mar 05, 2002 12:00AM
I had a second biopsy (lumpectomy) on a 10 year old biopsy site on my breast. The first one was a 1.3 DCIS and it was followed with radiaton- I have had another lumpectomy on the same site.
I would really appreciate a comment/opinion on the following path report:
Fibrous scarring, fat necrosis and dystrophic calcification consistent with previous bioplsy site. COMMENT In specimen there are a few ducts which are slightly distended and filled with atypical epithelial cells. Although minimal, these findings are felt to represent intraductal carcinoma. The focus is small and free of the surgical margins.
Does "free of surgical margins" represent that ALL the cancer cells were removed --- AND does this path report suggest the need of a mastectomy? If so, would it be considered "preventive" or "standard of care"
Thank you so much for your input~
I would really appreciate a comment/opinion on the following path report:
Fibrous scarring, fat necrosis and dystrophic calcification consistent with previous bioplsy site. COMMENT In specimen there are a few ducts which are slightly distended and filled with atypical epithelial cells. Although minimal, these findings are felt to represent intraductal carcinoma. The focus is small and free of the surgical margins.
Does "free of surgical margins" represent that ALL the cancer cells were removed --- AND does this path report suggest the need of a mastectomy? If so, would it be considered "preventive" or "standard of care"
Thank you so much for your input~
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-RN,MSN-rf, Mar 05, 2002 12:00AM
Dear whyizzit: The presence of a recurrence generally means that the first treatment didn't fully take care of the problem. If the recurrence is DCIS then further surgery (most often a mastectomy - standard of care) will usually take care of the problem. If the cancer is invasive, then the surgery may need to be followed with chemotherapy. Also, if it is invasive, additional testing will need to be done to be sure there are no cancer cells elsewhere. Technically, free of surgical margins means there were no cancer cells in the edge of the specimen that was removed. I cannot tell, from this report, whether this recurrence is DCIS or invasive cancer.
However, I'm a bit confused here.
What wording exactly would you need from this biopsy report/ to address this biopsy as DCIS? - or, as "invasive" requiring a mastectoy?
I realize this has gotten complex - so feel free to withold comment -due to insufficient info - I'm sure you know that all of us women out here do our best to relay proper info with our questions - but it's tough without guidelines.....