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What Is Meant By Ulcerated Friable Lesion At The Level Of Ileocecal Valve?
Question: My doctor found a ulcerated friable lesion at the level of the Ileocecal valve. I had colon cancer in 2009..My CEA 3 months ago was 1.5.. What this means? should I be worried?
Brief Answer:
concerning
Detailed Answer:
when a lesion is described as friable and ulcerated, it is always concerning, however it does not necessarily mean cancer. The doctor that did the procedure must have taken biopsies of the lesion, and these are analyzed under the microscope to see if there are any cancerous cells.
Other lesions besides cancer can resemble it, such as ischemic ulcers (due to lack of blood supply), ulcers due to NSAID use (ibuprofen, naproxen, aspirin, etc). With your history of colon cancer, there is always a chance of recurrence or new lesions to develop.
When was your last colonoscopy, and how clean was your colon during the colonoscopy? also, when you had the cancer diagnosed, how advanced was it? (meaning, did you need surgery or chemotherapy? any lymph nodes involved?).
concerning
Detailed Answer:
when a lesion is described as friable and ulcerated, it is always concerning, however it does not necessarily mean cancer. The doctor that did the procedure must have taken biopsies of the lesion, and these are analyzed under the microscope to see if there are any cancerous cells.
Other lesions besides cancer can resemble it, such as ischemic ulcers (due to lack of blood supply), ulcers due to NSAID use (ibuprofen, naproxen, aspirin, etc). With your history of colon cancer, there is always a chance of recurrence or new lesions to develop.
When was your last colonoscopy, and how clean was your colon during the colonoscopy? also, when you had the cancer diagnosed, how advanced was it? (meaning, did you need surgery or chemotherapy? any lymph nodes involved?).
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I was operated in 2009. Colon resection. NO/MO, no chemio no radiation. Last colonoscopie May 2013. Lymph nodes all negatives 9 of them.
Colon, at anasttomosis site ( endoscopic biopsy)
Mild melanosis coli otherwise no significant pathology
My last CEA was done 3 months ago and was 1.5.
Colon, at anasttomosis site ( endoscopic biopsy)
Mild melanosis coli otherwise no significant pathology
My last CEA was done 3 months ago and was 1.5.
Brief Answer:
biopsies will tell
Detailed Answer:
it would be unusual for you to already have an ulcerated lesion that is a cancerous after having had a colonoscopy a year ago, however keep in mind that it is still possible (since during your last colonoscopy, a small polyp may have been present and missed, or covered in stool), or you may have a genetic predisposition to develop fast and aggressive polyps that turn into cancer. Melanosis coli is not concerning (benign condition). The fact that you also had a normal CEA recently goes against having a malignancy. It seems your surgery back in 2009 was curative, as you did not have positive lymph nodes and no other metastasis, without need for chemotherapy. Biopsies will ultimately determine if there are any atypical or cancerous cells. Again it could be an ischemic ulcer or other type of ulcer that can mimic cancer.
biopsies will tell
Detailed Answer:
it would be unusual for you to already have an ulcerated lesion that is a cancerous after having had a colonoscopy a year ago, however keep in mind that it is still possible (since during your last colonoscopy, a small polyp may have been present and missed, or covered in stool), or you may have a genetic predisposition to develop fast and aggressive polyps that turn into cancer. Melanosis coli is not concerning (benign condition). The fact that you also had a normal CEA recently goes against having a malignancy. It seems your surgery back in 2009 was curative, as you did not have positive lymph nodes and no other metastasis, without need for chemotherapy. Biopsies will ultimately determine if there are any atypical or cancerous cells. Again it could be an ischemic ulcer or other type of ulcer that can mimic cancer.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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