Hi,
I have just been reading through my pathology report and think I understand most of it but there are a few bits I don’t. Can anyone help cos I can’t find out the info or enough on the “Understanding your Pathology” booklet?
Breast tissue showing Grade I invasive ductal carcinoma with intermediate nuclear grade DCIS. It measures 18mm in maximum dimension, no lymphovascular invasion is seem, the nearest (anterior) margin is at 1.2 mm.
I get the Grade I invasive ductual bit but what is the nuclear grade DCIS? Is the DCIS part of the 18mm? What is the margin bit about?
The report then goes on to say
8 lymph nodes are identified. One of these shows micrometastasis. One lymph node is identified and this is free of tumour.
Why is the 9th lymph node mentioned separately and as being free of tumour? Why isn’t it lumped in with the other 7 presumably tumour free ones in the 8?
The report then goes on to say
In situ carcinoma : present
ductal : yes
Grade : intermediate
Growth pattern : cribiform
lobular : no
pagets : no
microinvasion : no
invasive carcinoma : yes
tumour grade : 1
tumour type : ductal
tumour extent : localised
vascular invasion : not seen (blood or lymphatic)
I think this means/confirms above that I have/had a no specific type ductal invasive carcinoma Grade I and also a ductal in situ carcinoma intermediate (is that DCIS?) and that no lobules were involved and I dont have Paget’s disease and no spread to my blood or lymphatic system but…
What stage is this? I or II (with the lymph node which they then go on to state out of the 9 lymph nodes 1 is positive)
What on earth is cribiform growth pattern? The booklet on here seems to say its another unusual type of cancer.
What is micro invasion?
More, sorry, the report then goes on to say
umour size 18.00 mm (largest dimension of dominant invasive tumour focus), whole size of tumour 18.00 mm (to include DCIS extending >1mm beyond invasive area
Was my tumour a mixture then?
Nearly there, the report then says
Excision margins : does not reach margin. Anterior/superficial : 1mm
Eh? Is this because I had a mastectomy and my tumour was under my nipple so margins not an issue?
And finally,
Report says Tumour stage : pt1, N1mi
Eh???
Sorry, a long post, have been trying to understand it all day and would appreciate anyone who can explain some or all of it to me in terms I might get. Nothing in the report re receptor status so still have to wait for that and then figure that out.
Phew!