Surgery for Rectal Cancer in May 2018. LAR with TME. Did short course RT for 5 days before the surgery. Pathology came back T3(c) N0 Mo. Same as the CS and Same as the MRI showed before surgery.
Pathology report stated:
Lymphovascular Invasion: "Present"
Perinureal Invasion: "Identified"
Nodes: 0/21
Margins: All Margins Negative
Tumor Grade: Well Differentiated Tumor
Great report regarding Nodes and Margins but have a few "high risk" issues regarding LVI and PNI although not as concerning as Nodes or Margins!
Question: What does "Present" mean for LVI? Seems very VAGUE! Has it invaded all over the Mesorectal Fat and in multiple Vascular Vessels both small and Large? OR are a few tumor cells near the tumor site found but limited to that small area?
At Stage 2a Node Negative, Chemotherapy is undecided as helpful or not regarding DSR and OS? Im basing my decision to do Chemo on a "high risk Factor" LVI that only states the word, "Present". Seems very limited in scope and its meaning. My Oncologist didnt really have any answers. He states stage 2a is to unknown and controversial on whether Chemo will be over treatment or help. "Mop up" chemo seems like a weak reason when disease cant be shown and studies don't really support it.
Any thoughts on this matter is appreciated!