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How To Check For Malignancy Of Moles?
Question: I had three moles removed on 7/22/14. My dermatologist made sure to tell me a couple of times that they weren't melanoma/cancer but could not tell me as to what degree of atypism they are until the biopsy comes back. I was told that it may take a week or more. I called today since its been a week and they haven't received my pathology results yet. they said it could take up to a couple of more weeks.
if there was a suspicion for malignancy do those biopsies usually return quickly? I can't imagine having to wait 2 to 4 weeks to find out If a mole is cancerous. Or is it being that my moles were not really concern for cancer that they just don't get priority on what gets biopsied firat. I've enclosed pictures of the moles removed.
if there was a suspicion for malignancy do those biopsies usually return quickly? I can't imagine having to wait 2 to 4 weeks to find out If a mole is cancerous. Or is it being that my moles were not really concern for cancer that they just don't get priority on what gets biopsied firat. I've enclosed pictures of the moles removed.
Brief Answer:
Moles do not appear as cancerous or precancerous.
Detailed Answer:
Hello young fellow,
Welcome to the forum again.
I answered one of your earlier queries and had guided you for the same with histo-pathological examination.
I have gone through all your pictures and with best of my knowledge I reassure you fully that these do not appear as cancerous or precancerous.
Histopathology is an essential part of all the tissues excised from body including the skin too. So, it is really a good thing that your moles are under analyses for the histopathology and will relax you for any future reference..
Sometimes it takes time to process the tissue and report it accordingly. In general it takes 1-2 weeks of time if the histopathology is done at Medical college level or a big center. Sometimes at small centers they send the biopsy to higher center and then this delivery of same from one place to another takes the time and can cause unnecessary delay.
The sample is then processed for the preparation of slides and then staining. Some of the times some centers do it with special stains which are done once in week or fortnightly, so may cause delay in the same. After staining too there is analyses by a pathologist then report typing and then sending the report to the smaller center and then to you.
So you got to know the whole series of process in the biopsy examination.
So do not think of anything serious about it. Looking to your lesions it shows quite normal kind of moles and in my view it would not be showing any atypia in histopathology.
As the moles are already excised so there is nothing to be worried for the same.
Just relax and do not worry. Do give me a follow up regarding your reports.
I hope these informations will relax you. I will be glad to answer any further queries.
My all best wishes for your healthy life.
With regards,
Dr Sanjay Kumar Kanodia
MD- Dermatology & Sexually transmitted diseases
Moles do not appear as cancerous or precancerous.
Detailed Answer:
Hello young fellow,
Welcome to the forum again.
I answered one of your earlier queries and had guided you for the same with histo-pathological examination.
I have gone through all your pictures and with best of my knowledge I reassure you fully that these do not appear as cancerous or precancerous.
Histopathology is an essential part of all the tissues excised from body including the skin too. So, it is really a good thing that your moles are under analyses for the histopathology and will relax you for any future reference..
Sometimes it takes time to process the tissue and report it accordingly. In general it takes 1-2 weeks of time if the histopathology is done at Medical college level or a big center. Sometimes at small centers they send the biopsy to higher center and then this delivery of same from one place to another takes the time and can cause unnecessary delay.
The sample is then processed for the preparation of slides and then staining. Some of the times some centers do it with special stains which are done once in week or fortnightly, so may cause delay in the same. After staining too there is analyses by a pathologist then report typing and then sending the report to the smaller center and then to you.
So you got to know the whole series of process in the biopsy examination.
So do not think of anything serious about it. Looking to your lesions it shows quite normal kind of moles and in my view it would not be showing any atypia in histopathology.
As the moles are already excised so there is nothing to be worried for the same.
Just relax and do not worry. Do give me a follow up regarding your reports.
I hope these informations will relax you. I will be glad to answer any further queries.
My all best wishes for your healthy life.
With regards,
Dr Sanjay Kumar Kanodia
MD- Dermatology & Sexually transmitted diseases
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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