Fay A. Posted February 18, 2005 Posted February 18, 2005 I received this as a private message, but thought the information might be of use to others: "Fay, could you please tell me the difference between spiculated margins and clear margins? When I had my nodule it was "spiculated".. Is there any difference in the cancer returning whether or not it is spiculated or clear? Thank you for your information.. " First off please remember that I am not a Physician. And you would probably receive a much better answer from our Ask The Experts. But I will try my best to explain this term, using what I've read from reputable sources, and what I've been told by what I feel to be reputable individuals. When I was referring to clear margins I was referring to the tumor being removed with excess non malignant tissue surrounding the lesion. Think of a drop of coffee on a white tablecloth. The term "clear margins" as I used it would mean cutting the fabric in such a way that the removed swatch would have a border of white fabric surrounding the coffee stain. This is a dictionary that I use to help me understand the terms with which I am unfamiliar : http://cancerweb.ncl.ac.uk/cgi-bin/omd? ... Search+OMD click on the first letter of the word you want to look up and scroll down until you find it. I was told that my largest tumor (right lung, lower lobe) that was removed in the very first Thoracotomy was a "...spiculated, cavitary mass...". I was told that the little fleshy bits protruding from it were indicative of an invasive process. I was told it meant a higher risk for spread of the disease. So here I sit, with recurrences but still very much alive, almost six years later. The one thing I am absolutely certain of is that there are no absolutes. I really do think you should post your question to the Ask The Experts Forum, though. PS to this added at 9:17 AM / After the first surgery I was told that the "spiculated" edges were part of a "Lepedic" growth pattern along existing alveoli. The clear margins came into play by cutting around the tumor through lung tissue that had no evidence of malignancy. Quote
chloesmom Posted February 18, 2005 Posted February 18, 2005 Not a doctor either, but I think you're comparing two different things here. Clear margins is exactly right--it's removing a clean, disease free rim of tissue along with the tumor. You want to have clear margins following surgery to insure there is no malignant tissue left behind. That's a huge deal in breast cancer surgery, and the lack of clear margins in my surgical biopsy caused me to have to have surgery again, which was not a mistake on the surgeon's part, just kind of a didn't get lucky situation for me. Spiculated is just a descriptive term for a mass where spiky protrusions are present, instead of a smooth edge. That's all that is, and it's still the goal to get clear margins if you're removing a tumor with spiculated features. Clear margins is a goal of surgical removal of a tumor. Spiculation is just descriptive terms for a nodule. Again, I am not an expert or a doctor or anything like that, just a person with some experience. Cindy Quote
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