Suggest Treatment For Abnormal Neck Cells Seen In The PET Scan

Posted on Mon, 22 Jun 2015

Question: Hi My Dad is having a biopsy of his neck as we speak. He was diagnosed with Melonoma on his scalp 4 weeks ago - he is scheduled to have it removed on XXXXXXX 3rd. It is 2mm. My concern is the suspicious cells that were seen in the Pet Scan that he is having biopsied right now. He is 84 years old. If it was caught early enough, will he survive and what will be the course of treatment.

Answered by Dr. Monish De (13 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
wide excision of melanoma with adjuvant interferon therapy

Detailed Answer:
Hi

Since your dad is diagnosed with melanoma on his scalp and if it is caught early that is in stage 1 or 2 then wide excision which is surgery to remove the melanoma and a margin of normal skin around it is the standard treatment option

Adjuvant therapy with interferon may help keep some melanomas from coming back longer.

Prognosis is good for early stage melanoma and 85% of patients are cured with proper excision and adjuvant therapy

Regards

DR DE

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Monish De (14 minutes later)

thanks, What about the neck if it is in his Lymph nodes what is the treatment for that. My Dad is in good health. The Pet Scan did not show anything else..

Answered by Dr. Monish De (22 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Surgery followed by radiation therapy

Detailed Answer:
Hi

The lymph nodes in the neck if cancerous cells are found in it needs to be removed by surgery

After that radiation therapy needs to be given in the area of the lymph nodes of the neck

If you have no more clarifications then please rate the answer and close the thread

Regards

DR DE

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Monish De (46 hours later)

Ok, My Dad had a biopsy of a lump in his neck. Why does it take 5 days to get the results. Can the pathology report be rushed or is this a process that takes that much time.

Answered by Dr. Monish De (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
5 days of time

Detailed Answer:
Hi
It takes 5 days of time for the biopsy result to come because there are many tests performed on the biopsy sample for accurate diagnosis and immunohistochemistry test is done to determine the primary source of cancer which takes a few days of time

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Monish De (48 hours later)

Why does it matter to find the primary source. Don,t they have to take out cancer in both places. I don,t understand. If the neck was the primary source and the pet scam didn't,t show any other hot spots can they just remove the two cancerous spots.

Answered by Dr. Monish De (21 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Cancer can be removed by surgery in both the cancerous spots

Detailed Answer:
Hi

The primary source is melanoma on his scalp

Now the cancer may have spread to the lymph nodes in his neck for which biopsy is necessary to confirm it

If the pet scan do not show any other hot spots then the cancer can be removed by surgery in both the spots followed by interferon and radiation therapy so that the cancer does not come back

Biopsy takes 5 days of time as many tests are done to confirm that the lymph nodes in his neck have cancer cells spread from his melanoma in his scalp and no other region as pet scan sometimes can be falsely positive in inflammatory conditions

If you have no more clarifications then please rate the answer and close the thread

Regards

DR DE

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Monish De (23 hours later)

There was a new development this morning. My Dad has the Shingles.
He is scheduled for Surgery tomorrow- will they cancel the surgery?

Answered by Dr. Monish De (4 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Surgery will be delayed

Detailed Answer:
Hi

Since your dad is having shingles which is a varicella zoster virus infection the surgery will be cancelled

Viral infection lowers immunity of the body and causes acute weakness and he may not be fit for surgery

Regards

DR DE

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj