Hi SLL, and welcome -- The pathologist's statement means that there is some factor that would be consistent with lymphovascular invasion, but the evidence is inconclusive. That rises a bit above an unfounded suspicion.

In your situation I would definitely seek a second opinion at a large teaching hospital. A different doc may provide compelling reasons for radiation, or confirm your current doc's ambivalence on the necessity of radiation. I would ask your current hospital to retain your tissue cassettes so that they can be reviewed by another pathologist if needed.

This decision is just too important to rely on the opinion of a single tumor board. The next step will always be your choice, of course.

Good luck!

53
T3N2aM0 HPV+
5/26/13 discovered painless superball-sized lymph node in neck
6/26/13 DX SCC R palatine tonsil
7/16/13 TORS tonsillectomy & selective ND, mets to 2 nodes
9/3/13 Cisplatin and rads begin, tolerated 1.5 of 3 planned chemo doses
10/16/13 Treatment ends
Dec 13 Ulcer appears at surgery site
Jan 17 Biopsy -- no cancer!
Feb 17 CT/PET Scan lights up tonsil bed & nasal cavity, docs say probably inflammation, don't panic, rescan when ulcer subsides