Need help understanding pathology results

[worriedinmd]

Can someone help me to sort through the jargon of my pathology report? I know that no one here is a doctor. I'm meeting with mine on Monday. But I don't want to go through another weekend not knowing if I have cancer. I'm not the type to freak out, so please don't hold back any comments. I already expect it to be malignant. Here's what the report says:

"Slides show scattered groups of bland uniform follicle cells and background including abundant lymphocytes, more than can be accounted for by just peripheral blood. There are also some lymphoid tangles with streaming chromatin. Scattered groups of follicle cells show some more abundant granular cytoplasm for Hurthle cell changes. Focally, three dimentional almost microbiopsy fragments are noted. The study is fairly cellular for follicle cells and the groups range from loose monolayer groups to having rosette type follicle structure. There is some thin colloid in the background."

It goes on to say "cellular follicular nodule with a background of Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Although there is some colloid present, it is not a marked feature, and given the cellularity for follicle cells, cannot rule out follicular neoplasm."

What does it mean?!

[utahmomma]

Good.  Enjoy your weekend

[worriedinmd]

Thanks. I had also checked with a friend's wife, who is a nurse. She said much the same thing as the doctor on the other forum. Will make sleeping a lot easier for me and my husband this weekend :)

[utahmomma]

I saw that they doctor answered your question on your pathology (on the cancer forum).  I hope that it helped.   They are so good at answering questions over there about cancers and pathology reports (I had to post a couple of times about my scan results and a pathology report on my fiance's bladder)

[utahmomma]

Oh, believe me, I understand!  There are two doctors on there.  I believe they are in the Philippines so the time frame often is a bit off.  Give them a few hours.

Now slowly put down the mouse and walk away (for a while).  :-)

[worriedinmd]

Thanks for the advice. I just posted on that forum.

(I think I mentioned before that I'm not a very patient person. I want answers NOW!)

- V

[utahmomma]

I know it's sometimes difficult, or impossible, to get on the Ask a Doctor Forum with Dr. Lupo.  Try posting your question on the Patient to Patient "Cancer" forum - there are a couple of doctors on there who answer all the questions and they have been lifesavers for me.

Wish I could help more - it seems like every pathology department makes their own language up as they go.  :-(

[worriedinmd]

Thanks for the encouraging words. i had never heard of bland cells before, and the presence of so many lymphocytes had me expecting the worse. Guess I know for sure on Monday. But I knew the folks here could offer some insight.

- V

[898]

MJA Practice Essentials — Endocrinology

6: Thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer

Emily J Mackenzie and Robin H Mortimer


Series Editors: Donald J Chisholm and Jeffrey D Zajac

[898]

The explanation can mean the hope for the good news:
"The cytopathological report should be one of the following: insufficient for diagnosis; malignant; atypical; a follicular neoplasm; or benign. The presence of colloid and BLAND follicular cells suggests a benign lesion. The report should indicate adequacy of the specimen, as malignancy cannot be excluded if material is insufficient."

[worriedinmd]

no one has ever called my cells bland before. should I be offended? :-)

Viv

[898]

Sounds very confusing, could be pre-cancerous follicular adenoma?

[ChitChatNine]

Keep bumping up post if no reply when quiet on the weekends sometimes.  I am not sure .. lots of words not commonly seen ... but doesn't mean necessarily bad as in "C" words either ... but I'm not sure so will reserve comment.  Sorry :(

Cheryl