Waiting time dreadful

Jenlim · February 2016

I am new to this discussion board and have just joined this forum. I am currently waiting for my core needle biopsy results. A little about my history. I am 39 yrs old and I was having some pain on my left breast so i went to my doctor and she scheduled me for a diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound. The mammogram was negative but the ultrasound showed a complex cyst that has internal echoes and debris in it and so I needed to do a core needle biopsy. While doing the biopsy, my radiologist did reassured me that it looks benign and shouldn't worry and they usually could tell if it was cancer and she said she'll be shocked if it was cancer. While taking out about 3 tissue samples, she said she'll stop and said it collapsed. I was just wondering what that means? If it's truly cystic and if there's a high chance it is benign? I've done the biopsy on Friday, Feb. 5th and the tech said it will take 7 to 10 days for results usually sooner. Ive made an app for next thursday to see her which is more than 7 business days but was wondering how soon can they get the results if it was malignant. Should i call my doctor to see if is there yet? Just wondering if anyone out there know the usual wait time for pathology because during the meantime, I am a wreck worrying about it.

MelissaDallas · February 2016

Only about 1/2 percent of complex cysts are associated with a malignancy, so it is a pretty safe bet that you are fine. The fact that it collapsed is good-it confirmed it is indeed a cyst. I had one. They were ruling out complex cyst versus inframmamary lymph node on me. Same thing on mine. It collapsed when she stuck it

Jenlim · February 2016

I called my Doctor's office again today to see if my pathology report is in after my Core Needle Biopsy and the receptionist said..."oh, your pathology report isn't in yet but do come see your Core biopsy report." and I said "Aren't they the same thing?" The receptionist said "No, the core biopsy report tells you whats wrong with you and the pathology report is different."

Can anyone give me light on this?? Does that mean they found something? I am a wreck right now worrying about it. Any ideas from anyone would be greatly appreciated.

LisaAlissa · February 2016

I've no idea what the receptionist meant (and it sounds like she may not either!). But for any given biopsy, there should probably be:

1. an order for the biopsy (from whatever doc ordered the biopsy).

2. a procedure report for the biopsy (where the person who did the biopsy reports what they did/observed). For example, it should say how many samples they took, and probably describe their size and that they sent them to the pathologist/pathology lab. Hopefully it will say they did whatever the order said they should do.

3. a pathology report (and there may be interim reports before the final report) that says what they got, again describing the samples. Ideally they should match what the procedure report says was sent. It will then describe what they did to the samples (how they were prepared for examination), then what they saw.

Note that there may be interim or supplemental reports for either the procedure or the pathology report.

But no point in trying to figure out what she meant (maybe she's talking about an "interim" and a "final" pathology report? (That would square with the "what you've got" for her "core biopsy report" since you really can't get a diagnosis from anything other than a pathology report) At any rate, I wouldn't assume it meant anything in particular--it could as easily mean she wants you to see the good news so you'll stop worrying, instead of bad news. There's simply no way of knowing!

Just go get the whatever-it-is report. If she's got something else, besides the three kinds of orders/reports listed above, it would be interesting to hear about it.

HTH,

LisaAlissa

ChiSandy · February 2016

For my core biopsy I got two reports: first, the “core biopsy report” that described what was done (the anesthetic, the image guiding the core needle, who performed it, what the radiologist saw, what she took out, how big the samples were and what they looked like, how the wound was closed, and the discharge instructions she gave you for afterward. It was NOT a pathology report and did not divulge whether or not there was cancer because it was written before the path lab could evaluate the samples and issue the “Biopsy pathology report." Same thing after my lumpectomy: the “surgical report” came first, describing the surgeon, anesthesiologist, and assistants. method by which the mass was located, how the sentinel nodes were identified, what kind of anesthesia was used, what the surgeon saw in the OR, what she removed, how it was closed, how long I was both under and in the Recovery room, what instructions were given me afterward and how long I was told it’d take before the surgical path report was in. That latter report was labeled “Final Diagnosis: Surgical Pathology” and contained the information needed for staging (size, lymph node status), margins, and the tumor’s characteristics (which confirmed the hormone/HER2 status and grade reported in the biopsy path. report). The path reports are always signed by the actual pathologists performing the analysis and where it was performed (not always at the same hospital where the surgery was done).

Jenlim · February 2016

Thanks a bunch for clarifying about the reports and it does sound like both of you are correct and thorough as to how many reports I should be getting. I actually called the radiology clinic where I got my biopsy done and talked to the receptionist there and she did tell me that what my doctor's receptionist was telling me was the "procedure report" outlining what was being done to me during the core biopsy...ie. what tissues were taken, what was sent to the lab, etc. Every patient gets that report sent to their doctors and that IS separate from the "Pathology report" which is the one I'm anxiously waiting for right now.

I'm glad I got that clarified by the both of you and the radiology department....so a little sigh of relief...for now...before my next doctor's appointment where they will go over my results....at least I don't have to keep thinking about it and have it go over and over in my head this weekend.

Waiting time dreadful

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