Hi! I was wondering if any of you had ever had a biopsy come back negative and at a later date was shown to be positive? I have had a tongue ulcer for 6 months that has all the symptoms of cancer. I had it biopsied last week and it came back negative, but I can't shake this bad feeling. Just wondering if a mistake at the lab is possible. Thanks for your input!

Kelleyann --

My husband's initial biopsy showed "moderate dysplasia" -- somewhat abnormal cells, but not cancer -- but the pathology report, by a lab that does only oral evaluations, warned of a possible "skip effect," meaning that cancer cells could be in an area that was not part of the biopsy. A full excisional biopsy did indeed show SCC -- fortunately in its very beginning stage.

Can you have your slides evaluated by a lab that deals primarily with oral pathology? I recall several instances on these boards of cancer being picked up only after the slides were seen by pathologists who deal mainly with oral cancers, since they know what they are looking for and can recognize anomalies far more quickly and easily than pathologists who don't see this very much.

The American Academy of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology has a list of its member labs on its website. You may want to consider such a "second opinion," if only for your own peace of mind. If it's nothing, that's great. If it's something, it's caught early.

All the best,
Leslie

Kellyann,

My lymph node biopsy came back negative. I was told that it was 99% accurate. I had a bad feeling, and needed 100% so had it removed. The rest is history. Had I not questioned that 1%, I would not be here today. I was told that the needle "missed" the cancer. Find out if they can miss on the tongue...maybe have the total part in question removed? I was quite surprised when my diagnosis was changed. I am one very lucky person.

All the best,
Rob

I know that my biopsy was sent to an oral pathology lab in Dallas, from here in Louisiana.

I would certainly keep asking questions, and I might take myself and my records to M.D.Anderson in Houston for a second opinion. 6 months for a lesion in the mouth is too long for comfort, I would think. What explanation was given for the ulcerated area?

Been there, done that - I had a couple of biopsies on the right side of my tongue before the cancer was detected - keep on it and get tested again. Good luck.

Thank you all for your answers. Today is my one week followup, post biopsy, and another ulcer has formed along-side my stitches. I am looking forward to talking with the oral surgeon. I am going to take a copy of your answers with me.

Good luck and God bless to each of you. I hope to write to you soon.

Kelleyann

Kelleyann,

I was wondering how your visit went. Please let us know.

Jerry

Kelley - Interesting you bring up the word "ulcers" As you can see by my signature, my husband seems to be constantly fighting oral lesions/cancer/lichen planus. He just had a double biopsy 2 weeks ago (via his ENT up at Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Fl.) and both came back as lichen planus (which he has had for decades). Then he saw his ENT here today, about another "spot" in the back of his mouth, and the ENT called it an "ulcer". What's interesting, is that he used an instrument to "cauterize" it, and the doctor said the ulcer reacted just as an ULCER should. He stated that cancer will not disappear like this lesion today did. My husband seems to have ongoing problems in his mouth and of course, he is watched constantly. Kelley, have you had OTHER problems in your mouth over the years?
LeslieB., this is for you...you mentioned the AAOM pathology labs site to Kelley and I looked it up. What's so amazing, is that my husband's doctor in Gainesville JUST recommended THE VERY DOCTOR mentioned on the Florida site you linked us to in your post! So THANKS! Dick doesn't have an appt. with him yet (waiting for return of phone call) but now we will definately see him about the ongoing oral problems he has.
Keep in touch, Kelley. Warmly, JaneP