Can anyone help me understand my path report?

Kitchenwitch

Because of yesterday's shock (2nd area that needs examination) I realize I really have to read these reports myself and not just trust the docs to get everything right.

I don't have the path report from the original slide at this moment, just the consulting one from one of the breast surgeons. I also have the report from the radiologist who did my biopsy. It doesn't have the results but it has the recommendation to have a second biopsy.

Consulting path report: In these samplings, DCIS is of the micropapillary and flat-micropapillary (so-called "clinging") types with intermediate to high-grade nuclei, incipient necrosis and focal calcifications. Also identified are foci of atypical columnar cell hyperplasia.

 The radiologist's report from the stereotactic biopsy says under "clinical information" - Indeterminate calcifications. 

This also jumped out at me: Post-procedure mammogram reveals post-biopsy change and the clip at the site of the biopsy.

Post-biopsy change?? I have a phone message into this guy but I seriously doubt he'll return my call.

  

momzr

Kitchenwitch --

I'm pretty sure the 'post-biopsy change' just means that the radiologist can tell there is some difference in the appearance of your breast tissue and it is a result of the biopsy that you had meaning that it's not something to worry about, but BECAUSE of your biopsy that there is a difference in the tissue.  I'm sure radiologists have looked at so many of these they can tell when breast tissue is different after a biopsy versus some sort of more 'alarming' difference in breast tissue.

Here is link to DCIS info that is on this very website and it explains more about micropapillary and necrosis, etc. which might help you understand more.

http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/types/dcis/diagnosis.jsp

Good Luck!

TOB

Post-biopsy change is the radiologist's way of simply acknowledging the fact that there was a biopsy, i.e., I know that there was a biopsy (either by history, by reviewing other records or because I performed the procedure) and the mammo confirms that because the area looks different than it did before the biopsy.  (Remember that medical records should document what happened in such a way that both your current docs and any docs who treat you in the future can know what happened.) This language in the report is be expected and is nothing to be concerned about. If it said that there was no difference post biopsy, I'd be asking why I was charged for a biopsy that didn't happen.  (Unfortunately, I've seen instances like that in medical records that I've reviewed, usually when the doctor is being sued for a failure to diagnose a cancer that should clearly have been diagnosed.) 

Kitchenwitch

thank you both! Now of course I can see that as a perfectly logical explanation. But when I came across it, I just panicked and thought, Now what?? 

sweatyspice

I have copies of every mammogram and ultrasound film, my MRI on 4 CDs, and every single accompanying report.  (Plus my BRCA reports.)

For amyone who hasn't been through it, after the biopsy they make you do another mammo where they don't squish you quite as much, I'm not really sure why - it might be just to make sure the marking clips ended up in the proper position. 

In any case, the post-biopsy mammos will CLEARLY show a big fat hole where your breast tissue used to be (and the surgical clips).  That's probably what the radiologist is referring to.  The hole in your bagel, so to speak.  (I'm hungry.)