Third year Day 90 - Thursday March 13, 2014

Today was the big day of getting the stitches removed.  Also, we got a call that the final biopsy was in and they would discuss it with us at the appointment (what does that mean??).  The nurse who removed the stitches, said that the wound looks great; we all thought so!!  Then the doctor told us that the biopsy showed that it was a bunch of scar tissue in her back!  Weird, right!  They are at a loss as to why it is there.  Arrianne later said, perhaps there was some glass or something from the wreck??  Who knows!!  Anyway, they also said that the biopsy showed that the tissue extends to one margin of the removal tissue, so that perhaps not all of it was removed; and they removed quite a bit.  The doctor said that she saw that as she was removing and scraped a little more and hoped she got it all.  But, the thing is, if there's any tissue left, they said it might regrow and have to be removed again later.  Bummer!  Anyway, the final biopsy report calls it.....a benign dermatofibroma.  We googled this term and looked at pictures, and none of them are remotely what hers looked like.  Her skin was smooth with a bump underneath, while these show a raised bump on top of the skin.  Huh!  Anyway, the definition we found......A dermatofibroma is an very common skin growth. It is a small, firm bump on the skin. The dermis layer of skin contains nerve endings, glands, and vessels. The bump is an overgrowth of the tissue in the dermis layer. The bump is generally pinkish-brown in color. It is often found on the legs. Sometimes more than one appears. Generally, they are harmless and are not connected to skin cancer.  The cause is unknown. Dermatofibromas sometimes appear after a minor injury to the skin. This can include an insect bite or a prick of a thorn.  Dermatofibromas are:

• Usually reddish-brown in color
  • Are darker in individuals with darker skin
  • May change color over time
• Found most often on the legs, but may also appear on the arms or torso of the body
• Small in size (3-10 millimeters)
• Very firm to touch
• Sometimes itchy or sensitive when touched
• Raised from the skin and may bleed if damaged (eg, a dermatofibroma can bleed if you shave over it

Anyway, I don't think that was particularly helpful, since it doesn't seem to fit.  Another time when you get more information and it just raises more questions!!