Here is the zufus take on perineural invasion, yes if you had enough biopsies samples it is likely to find PNI on some biopsy. It doesn't mean a guaranteed spread of PCa, and it is common on many of our pathology findings, even on so called cured guys. It means that in that biopsy aka about
a hair thickness sample maybe about
1/2" long, they found it hit a nerve-vein (a blood travel source). I have my biopsy slides (photos) posted at www.yananow.org (somewhere), I got a pathology 101 lessons with a pathologist guy with a stereo microscope lesson (very cool to see the sob's close up). I have to tell you that PNI is actually easy to detect under the scope (for the main sightings). It shows up as like a dot (black) with a tail a squiggly looking thing and normal cells and PCa cells don't look like that, so even a lay person has a great chance of spotting it. The squiggly look is perhaps showing the flow movement thing happening in real time (a guess of mine). I have posted photos on Gleason 7,8,9 lovely sob's under the scope.
So, I would not freak out about
PNI but it is not welcoming either. Focus more on what Gleason scores, volumes of PCa found and what scans might reveal. Use nomograms and partin tables to comprehend the odds of cure vs. the docs conjectures (especially when you are given the 100% cure program story). Are you aware of the failure to be cure rates in PCa and that recurrences can happen 10-15 years out??? Just want to point out this is not simplistic and fantastic results for patients, there is a certain gamble to it all.....people should be aware and get disclosure on those truths, is my thinking.
Post Edited (zufus) : 9/21/2013 7:52:45 AM (GMT-6)