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residual tumor

kim50
kim50 CSN Member Posts: 34
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
What is residual tumor? I aksed this dctor here at emory and he looked at me like i was crazy! I've heard it discussed on here before...or do I not know what i'm talking about???
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  • palmyrafan
    palmyrafan CSN Member Posts: 396
    #2
    It was explained to me by my surgeon that residual tumor(s) are tumors that are left behind that were unable to be surgically removed. "Leftovers".
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  • ratface
    ratface CSN Member Posts: 1,337 Member
    #3
    palmyrafan said:

    It was explained to me by my surgeon that residual tumor(s) are tumors that are left behind that were unable to be surgically removed. "Leftovers".

    it's a standardized sub category
    It's a standardized sub category of the TNM cancer classification reporting system and if the doctor you asked is an oncologist then find another doctor. The doctor should be able to provide you with the diagnosis classification which will either include an 'R' for residual classification or it will not?
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  • miccmill
    miccmill CSN Member Posts: 248
    #4
    ratface said:

    it's a standardized sub category
    It's a standardized sub category of the TNM cancer classification reporting system and if the doctor you asked is an oncologist then find another doctor. The doctor should be able to provide you with the diagnosis classification which will either include an 'R' for residual classification or it will not?

    Geesh
    Wow, I'm so annoyed at your Dr. for the "answer" you got to a very legitimate question. Not that ANY question should ever be blown off like that.

    Your Dr. knows darn well what "Residual Tumor" is. It's a standard, which means everyone uses this method of identifying what's left of a tumor after treatment. For some cancers, it provides the next step in treatment planning.

    All I can think of are evil things to say so I won't recommend any type of comment to your Dr. right now.

    You can read more about it a PubMed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8115781
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  • Jimbo55
    Jimbo55 CSN Member Posts: 590
    #5
    I've got to hope the MD misunderstood the question, as I can't believe he doesn't know what a residual tumor is.

    My first post treatment PET/CT lit up in the very same location as the original tumor. The initial diagnosis was a residual tumor. I was told the treatment (rads/chemo) did not completely kill the original tumor, it was residual.

    Def: Residual - Remaining after the greater part or quantity has gone.

    Luckily for me, a follow up MRI was clean and the diagnosis has since been changed to 'most probably inflammation'. Cheers

    Jimbo
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