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Pathology slide review is mandatory before planning treatment for referral patients with gynecologic cancer
Author(s) -
KIETPEERAKOOL Chumnan,
CHANGKASIRI Bancha,
KHUNAMORNPONG Surapan,
SIRIAUNKGUL Sumalee,
SRISOMBOON Jatupol
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
asia‐pacific journal of clinical oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.73
H-Index - 29
eISSN - 1743-7563
pISSN - 1743-7555
DOI - 10.1111/j.1743-7563.2006.00053.x
Subject(s) - medicine , referral , vulva , gynecologic cancer , cervix , gynecology , medical record , cervical cancer , cancer , endometrial cancer , ovarian cancer , general surgery , surgery , family medicine
Objective: To evaluate the impact of a pathology slide review on the management of gynecologic cancer patients. Materials and methods: The medical records of referral patients, with the original pathologic diagnosis of gynecologic cancer treated at Chiang Mai University Hospital between January 2002 and May 2003, were retrospectively reviewed. Results: During the study period, 402 cases were available for analysis. The slides reviewed were obtained from the following organs: cervix (305), ovary (33), endometrium (32), vulva (14), and others (17). In comparison between the diagnosis after slide review and the original referral diagnosis, the minor discrepancy rate was 41.5% (95% CI: 36.7–46.5%). The major discrepancy rate was 9.0% (95% CI: 6.3–12.2%) and the most common clinical consequence was the modification of planned surgery. There was no major diagnostic discrepancy in the vulvar specimens. Among patients with cervical neoplasia, there was a significantly lower rate of major discrepancy among patients with gross lesion than among those without ( P < 0.001). Conclusion: Major diagnostic discrepancies were identified in 9% of referral patients with gynecologic cancer. A pathology slide review is strongly recommended before planning treatment to improve the quality of patient care.