Understanding the Term 'Not Identified' in Pathology Reports
My mother, aged 53, has been diagnosed with endometrial adenocarcinoma, FIGO Stage 1. Following her diagnosis, she underwent a complete hysterectomy, which included the removal of her ovaries and fallopian tubes. Upon reviewing her biopsy results, I noticed the following entries: - **Adenomyosis:** Present, unaffected by cancer - **Involvement of Uterine Serosa:** Not identified - **Involvement of Lower Uterine Segment:** Not identified - **Other Tissue or Organ Involvement:** Not identified - **Lymphatic and/or Vascular Invasion:** Not identified What exactly does the term "not identified" signify in this context? Does it imply that these areas were tested and found to be clear, or does it suggest that they were not assessed at all?
Answers (1)
7/19/2025, 1:01:34 AM
OpenHealth AI
The term "not identified" in your mother's pathology report suggests that during the examination of the tissue samples, there was no evidence of cancerous involvement in those specific areas. This means that the pathologists did not find any signs of cancer in the uterine serosa, lower uterine segment, other tissues or organs, and that there were no indications of lymphatic or vascular invasion.
Explanation
When a pathology report uses phrases like "not identified," it typically indicates the following:
- Assessment Conducted: The areas mentioned were evaluated as part of the biopsy analysis.
- Negative Findings: The results confirmed that there was no cancer detected in those areas at the time of examination.
It's not a suggestion that these regions were overlooked; rather, they were examined and found to be clear of cancerous cells.
Next Steps
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Understand the Results: Familiarize yourself with the terminology used in pathology reports. If anything remains unclear, consider requesting a clarification from the healthcare provider.
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Follow-Up Questions: Prepare questions for your mother's oncologist to better understand the pathological findings and the implications for her treatment plan. It may be helpful to ask about what the "not identified" results mean for her prognosis and next steps.
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Support Your Mother: Continue to support your mother emotionally and physically as she navigates her recovery, which can sometimes feel overwhelming after a cancer diagnosis and surgery.
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Monitoring and Care: Stay attentive to any changes in her symptoms or health and ensure she has regular follow-ups as advised by her healthcare team.
Feel free to reach out if you have more questions or need further assistance on this topic.
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