Surprise Visitors & some Med-Speak...

The unexpected just keeps happening around here... Monday afternoon I was surprised by a drop in visit from my wild & crazy Children, who seemed to manage a "get-away-day" and wound up at Slaughter House... for "old time sake." From L>R that's Son-In-Law #2, Kyle, Amanda, yours truly, Kelly and Carl. If I look puffed up an perhaps a bit PROUD - I am!

Now, for those of you who've been waiting patiently, I'm going to share the details of the Doctors findings, in their own terms... and PLEASE - "DAM" (Don't Ask Me), as I haven't a clue what all that means, and have no intention of finding out. Oh, and for the squeamish or if you just don't want to get this deep - it's OK to skip the next few paragraphs, I totally understand, and normally would be skipping it myself.

(This is the Pathology Report following the Right Neck Biopsy on 10-31-2008.)

MICROSCOPIC DESCRIPTION: The small biopsy fragments has nests of hyperchromatic cells with adjoining fibrous stromal reaction with limited lymphocytes. The tumor nests have focal necrosis and limited eosinophilic tumor cell cytoplasm with mitotic figures present. The neoplasm diffusely expresses AE1/AE3 cytokeratin and p63, with absence of mucin vacuoles on a DPAS stain consistent with poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma.

FINAL DIAGNOSIS: Right neck biopsy: Poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma, consistent with metastasis. DIAGNOSIS COMMENT: While no distinct lymphoid background is identified, effacement of background lymph node architecture by metastatic carcinoma with associated fibrous reaction may be possible particularly as the biopsy tissue provides limited tissue sampling. The findings are consistent with the recent biopsy findings of invasive very squamous cell carcinoma involving the right tonsil. (Specimen # So8-20180)

(This is the Pathology Report following the Right Tonsillectomy on 11-14-2008.)

1. Right Tonsil: Poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma focally infiltrating skeletal muscle of tonsillar fossa.
2. Right medial tonsil fossa: No tumor identified.
3. Inferior right tonsillar process: No tumor identified.
4. Right lateral tonsillar process: No tumor identified.
5. Right base of tongue: No tumor identified.
6. Midline tongue base: No tumor identified.

Diagnosis Comment: Case reviewed in Pathology Staff Conference on 11/17/2008

Ron's Comment: All in all, that means removing the Tonsil should resolve the situation, and the Radiation/Chemo treatments are for the cell growth in the Lymph Nodes, and everything should be "peachy!"

"Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; Wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad." - Miles Kington