LVSI

Hi mollysue 

Lympho Vascular Space Invasion. 

It is when tiny cancer cells are found in vessels leaving the womb. This can be found after the hysterectomy in the more detailed analysis of the womb etc. It is not seen on MRI before surgery as the cells are too small to show up.

I believe LVSI can be focal or more extensive.

Treatment will depend on your own personal circumstances, FINAL assessment of stage and grade and degree of LVSI found. Plus all the other factors if genetic blood testing like Pole and Lynch Syndrome testing etc.

It also will depend on the team's policy of treatment as hospital policies can vary I believe.

I hope I have helped explain this a bit. As I said on a previous thread I am new to all this and there is probably more that more experienced forum members can add to help you.

No-one can predict anything until ALL your results are in. The team then look at everything as a whole before they plan any adjunct treatment.

Hope this helps you.

P.s IF LVSI is found. Not everyone is found to have it.

Hi mollysue, here’s how Jane explained it before:

KT89, that was a brilliant explanation! 

So worrying isn't it about going into blood or lymthatic vessels  

would  any of this show in blood tests  is that the ca125 test ? 

Treatment for these would be chemo and radio therapy then ? 

No it only shows in the histology post hysterectomy not in blood test as if it’s there it’s localised to that area.

No not necessarily. Any treatment (if deemed appropriate which isn’t always the case) is planned on a individual basis.

Yes it is worrying but there’s literally no point worrying as we have no control over our histology results. I found it best to hope for the best and just distract myself and get on with life. 

Hi mollysue

LVSI are found when they do the post op pathology. They can not be found before. No scans, blood tests etc will pick them up. They are very tiny cancer cells that are seen with a microscope in the lymphatic or blood vessels leaving the tumour. 

LVSI would suggest radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Brachytherapy is offered to mop up stray cells in the local area, top of vagina, where the womb originally was.

External beam radiotherapy is offered to mop up stray cells in the pelvis. For me it was aimed at the top of vagina area and the pelvic lymph nodes.

Chemotherapy is to mop up any stray cells systemically. With LVSI the tiny cells could potentially travel around the body via the blood vessels or lymphatic system so any treatment needs to be whole body. This is not the only reason for chemo but you asked about the LVSI.

Stage is different. I had stage 1 and LVSI. It would not have become stage 2 unless cancer cells were found in the cervix. 

CA125 is a tumour marker and it is nothing to do with LVSI and is not affected by them. 

LVSI can be in different amounts focal, substantial, extensive. 

LVSI is only one factor in deciding on further treatment. 

Hope this is clear and that you do not have to wait to much longer. Why not give your CNS a call and ask if the results have come back yet?

Jane