#25846 05-18-2003 10:18 AM | Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | OP Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 | Can anyone explain to me what "focally invasive" means. It's not in my Tabers Medical Dictionary.
Gary Allsebrook *********************************** Dx 11/22/02, SCC, 6 x 3 cm Polypoid tumor, rt tonsil, Stage III/IVA, T3N0M0 G1/2 Tx 1/28/03 - 3/19/03, Cisplatin ct x2, IMRT, bilateral, with boost, x35(69.96Gy) ________________________________________________________ "You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14 NIV)
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#25847 05-18-2003 11:38 AM | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,912 Likes: 52 OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,912 Likes: 52 | The extent of invasion of malignant cells into surrounding tissues can really only be defined by excision, as the measurement exists on a cellular level. IN GENERAL doctors attempt to describe invasion in terms which cannot be held to these strict parameters. For instance a carcinoma in situ, is a VERY localized cancer that is at it's earliest stages and which has not invaded deeply into surrounding structures or advanced by any other means from the immediate area. Even this description is vague, causing different pathologists to even disagree in to how far through the various levels of epithelium it can extend and still be called "in situ
Brian, stage 4 oral cancer survivor. OCF Founder and Director. The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant. | | |
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