Final Pathology Report

Hi Everyone

Hope you are all well. I wanted to post notables from the final pathology report in the hope that i can get clearer information here than that of the surgeon! While he is excellent at his work, his after care and handling of questions is lax to say the least.

Here are items I have questions about if anyone can shed light on these

Prostatic carcinoma extends focally to the black inked margin. The final apical margin is negative for carcinoma. - focally on slide 1m there are cauterized carcinoma cells present at the ink as well as focal areas of extra prostatic extension.......Pretty confusing, how are the margins negative if what i read above is that cancer was found at the inked margin?

Under the margin section of the report it says that the margins involved by invasive carcinoma (black inked margin) (slide 1m) measured using the ck AE1/AE3 stain; limited (<3mm) ... what does this mean?

Margin positivity in area of EPE (slide #1m) ... again im reading positive margins! same slide

In the gross description it says about the size of the specimen etc. The left vas deferens were attached, the right was detached ...

It lists off the A-J breakdown of the bladder/seminal vesicles etc

The remainder of the specimen is then sectioned transversely into 7 slices numbered from apex to bladder margin. Slice #1 l, right half, m, left half. Slide 2 N, right half, O, left half, Slice #3 P, right half, Q, left half

Reading the above, how do i tell what area of the prostate was slide #1M?

Wish i went ahead with medicine studies in college!

Best wishes to everyone

It sounds like you have a good report, as TA said, there is minor EPE happening, but that may or may not be meaningful. That less than 0.01 PSA really tells the story. It sounds highly likely they got it all...and they got to it soon enough.

Now, work on recovery and keep at the PSA for a while, and see what happens.

Thanks so much for the input guys! Can anyone shed any light on the area of the prostate that had the epe? Is there an area more prone to BCR than others? Due to the fact its closer to nerves etc.

Many thanks again

Thanks pratoman!