Dragana Pilavdzic

Depending on each step of the process. Firstly, how long it takes for the sample to reach a laboratory. Some labs have four hour processing and the slides could be ready and reported by a pathologist next day, if no special stains are needed. However, sometimes specimens are collected once or twice a week and then sent to the laboratory. Many labs have overnight processing and depending how busy they are the slides may be only the day after. Ideally, the sample should be fixed at least 12 to 24 hours prior to processing. Its also depends on the availability of a pathologist and complexity of the case. If special stains, deep cuts or consultation is needed, slides may be a couple of days with the pathologist before the report is released. The best is to ask a Doctor who performs colonoscopy. Each region is different. Certainly, the doctor may have an idea of the complexity of the case. On general, 72 hours to one week on average seems reasonable expectation. Good luck!

It depends on your radiology department organization and/or backlog. Best to ask them after your exam is finished. The length of radiologist’s exam of images depends of the density of breast tissue and his/her’s experience and diligence. Good luck.

Depends on the laboratory and on diagnosis. Usually, additional special stains and immunostains are needed. I would think that in the best case scenario on average at least a week. Clinical history should be provided on the pathology requisition to guide and expedite sign out.
Good luck.

Dr Pilavdzic

Yes, definitely, you need to be seen by a dermatologist and/or have a biopsy or excision of the lesion.

Pathologists do not perform surgery. They may perform find needle aspiration biopsies of thyroid gland or breast or any superficial lesion; those rare pathologists are specially trained and they see patients. Depending on your definition of a clinician, they should be considered clinicians as they are very responsible for patients, the correct diagnosis, despite the fact they do not see the patients. If you do not consider a physician who makes a diagnosis of carcinoma a clinician, and on the basis of his/her report the patient will get treatments radiation or chemotherapy a non-clinician, then they are not clinicians.

It will tell him the diagnosis; the pathology report will tell him whether the lesion your doctor biopsied was benign or malignant, and what needs to be done. Does the lesion need to be excised or not? Is everything going to be OK or your son might need more investigations, radiation or chemotherapy.

It is accurate but until you remove the entire tumor you may not know since sampling may miss very rare possibility of (about 6%) carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma or even more rare areas of carcinosarcoma arising in pleomorphic adenoma. The most important advice I have for you is to let you know that you MUST think positively and all will be good. Statistically you have a low probability to have a malignant tumor, assuming your cytopatholgist is correct. Good luck with surgery.

Not yet. Let’s wait for the results. Melanocytic lesions may be difficult, and it is a good practice to get a second opinion from subspecialist in a difficult case. At least it looks like you will get that right diagnosis.

Good luck.

Yes, second opinion from a lung specialist.

Breast carcinomas are very rarely painful. The pains that you feel are most likely hormonally related to your cycles. If there is no family history of carcinoma in the family and you do not palpate a particular lump, do not stress. Whole breast ultrasound would be the safest screening for your age. Alternatively, if you have a family history of particularly breast carcinoma in relatives of a younger age, mammography, ultrasound and even MRI may be applicable. Having said that, good clinical exam is the first and the most important step.
Think positive, eat well and exercise.

One would not know until the lymph node in question is not removed or fine needle core biopsy or aspiration is examined in pathology. It is most likely benign reactive but it could be involved by lymphoma or metastasis from carcinoma or melanoma depending if you already have cancer somewhere.

Interpretation of “moles” nevomelanocytic lesions can be difficult. Second opinion is always a great idea. Having said that, if the original pathologist asked for a second opinion, the lesion is most likely not straightforward malignant melanoma or benign nevus. Spectrum of atypical nevomelanocytic lesions exist. Carcinoma is a malignant neoplasms of epithelial origin, melanoma is a malignant neoplasm of melanocytes.