"Fragment" used for every one of my biopsy intercepts (pathology language.)

[sm60]

Anybody else have that on their report?

Thanks in advance.

[sm60]

Anyone? I've seen other prostate biopsy pathology reports that DO NOT use this language to describe the intercepts. Thanks in advance...

[sm60]

Hello?

[sm60]

I'm wondering if my 100% naturopathic protocol, to date (that has already reduced my PSA from 20.3 to 16.0 and eased my urinary symptoms) may have induced apoptosis, and that this word "fragment" all over my pathology report --EACH INTERCEPT-- may be indicative of that. Thanks in advance.

[farmanerd in reply to sm60]

From one of your prior posts:"I recently submitted to these barbaric random biopsies due mostly to family pressures, because my urologist here in northern Maine steadfastly refused to move to the 21st century and do imaging first. That came back positive with some 6 and 7 Gleasons, and one 9."

Lacking any more details from you, I will assume you had either a TRUS guided biopsy or a transperineal biopsy. When ejected from the needle and into the media cassette, cores can break into pieces. When the pathologist does fixation and examination of these pieces, they are referred to as "fragments". A rather common occurrence, and if I recall correctly, at least two of mine were fragmented. Perhaps the fragmentation was due to rough handling of the cores with forceps during collection and processing?

[farmanerd in reply to farmanerd]

Just reviewed my pathology report and saw that three of twelve were fragmented.

[sm60 in reply to farmanerd]

Right...but ALL EIGHT? To me that seems a bit odd. Thanks for your replies.

[farmanerd in reply to sm60]

Confirmation bias? As TA stated, cores fragment all the time.

[sm60 in reply to farmanerd]

Not all of them.

[sm60 in reply to farmanerd]

Thanks!

[farmanerd]

What kind of a biopsy did you have? Perhaps with more detail concerning both the procedure and the report, someone might reply.

[sm60 in reply to farmanerd]

Standard transrectal, 12 cores.

[Tall_Allen]

The cores often break into fragments. It's no big deal. It's just how they report volume of the core.

[sm60]

Right...so NO ONE ELSE HERE (other than the resident naturopathic guy) has had his biopsy shredded to the degree mine was. Cool.

[NotDFL]

Bigger pieces of tissue would have been nice, but you reported that several fragments had significant Gleason scores. That's what matters...

[sm60 in reply to NotDFL]

Not if they were all falling apart from naturopathic success/apoptosis, right? Would I not, in that case, be in significant danger of unnecessary and costly (in every respect) overtreatment(s)?

[sm60]

P.S. I am in contact with Dr. Daniel Fajardo who wrote a paper on prostate biopsy fragmentation. He is reviewing my pathology report, and I will add any comments he may provide, ASAP.

[CAMPSOUPS in reply to sm60]

Good. He will probably confirm that the more core samples placed in a jar the greater the chance of tissue tangling/fragmentation. It has nothing to do with treatment. Its a simple physical thing. Put one strand of silly string in a jar it will probably stay intact. Put multiple pieces in a jar and they will touch each other and break into fragments.

[sm60 in reply to sm60]

He's reviewing the report as I type....

[CAMPSOUPS in reply to sm60]

the number of cores per container, presence of cancer, and increased Gleason score all contribute to the likelihood of tissue fragmentation.

[j-o-h-n in reply to CAMPSOUPS]

Wanna have lot of laughs?...... mix some silly string in your cooked spaghetti and serve it to your guests hot and al dente.............

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Wednesday 09/01/2021 10:22 PM DST

[SPEEDYX in reply to j-o-h-n]

Almost as bad as using ketchup for tomato sauce!

[j-o-h-n in reply to SPEEDYX]

Wait a minute.......... what's wrong with using Ketchup on my spaghetti....

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Thursday 09/02/2021 10:47 PM DST

[SPEEDYX in reply to j-o-h-n]

Nothing if you are Greek....The famous composer [Zorba]Mikis Theodorakis pass away 96!!!!

[j-o-h-n in reply to SPEEDYX]

Opa patrioti!!!.....Life to the Living.........

youtube.com/watch?v=kG12C1o...(Not working as expected?)

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Friday 09/03/2021 12:59 PM DST

[SPEEDYX in reply to j-o-h-n]

One of my favs..didnt know you could dance so good!

[sm60 in reply to j-o-h-n]

Yuck!!....lol...

[CAMPSOUPS in reply to j-o-h-n]

Make it the glow in the dark string for that radioactive dinner effect !

[j-o-h-n in reply to CAMPSOUPS]

Stupid me... why didn't I think of that....it's funny.

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Thursday 09/02/2021 9:03 PM DST

[sm60]

Dr. Fajardo just called to say that he does find it odd they would describe each intersection as a "cylindrical fragment," but said that he did not study the effects of possible apoptosis on fragmentation when he wrote the article, and doesn't know if that could be a factor. He also said if the language had been used in the summary discussing the presence of cancer that his concerns would have been more significant than the choice of this language used for each intercept.