Preliminary vs. Final Pathology of Lymph Nodes

Options
sfgene
sfgene Member Posts: 5
edited January 2015 in Diagnosed and Waiting for Test Results

If during surgery, a lymph node is deemed "negative", does anybody know how often the lymph node is found to be positive for cancer in the final pathology test given a week later? In other words, what is the false-negative rate for preliminary lymph node tests.

I'm wondering how much to worry about the final results. Thanks.

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • fifthyear
    fifthyear Member Posts: 225
    edited January 2015

    In my case, after surgery and before getting the final path report, my surgeon told us that the sentinel nodes removed (4) seem soft and small, it is an indicator that it is ok. Few days later he called and said path report came and it was negative. So I think surgeons do have a feel for it. If they did a prelim test while you are in surgery, chances are pretty high that it will be negative in final path.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • juneping
    juneping Member Posts: 1,594
    edited January 2015

    my surgeon removed three sentinel nodes and have a pathologist next door to check if there's any cancer cells there. If no cancer she would move on to the MX or LX. If cancer then she would do ALND then the mx or L

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited January 2015

    False negative about 10% of the time. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Momof3GreatKids
    Momof3GreatKids Member Posts: 303
    edited January 2015

    I had 3 nodes taken out and tested right there that cane back negative at that time. Then a week later on the final pathology one node was found to have some cancer cells in it but was still considered negative since there needed to be 250 cells to be considered positive and mine was just under 250. My MO said that to her she would consider it positive so that was why I did chemo along with radiation.

    Let me know if you have any other questions.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Mecsmama
    Mecsmama Member Posts: 20
    edited January 2015

    I had three sentinel nodes removed during my bmx. On the day of the surgery the nodes were looked at and we were told they were all negative. We were told there was a 5% chance that they would find anything in the nodes after the final pathology. Unfortunately, I fell in the 5%, but it was a small malignancy in one node. It is considered a micro-met. Try not too worry too much. I know that is easier said than done. Good luck to you!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories