Evaluation of the cost effectiveness of establishing a fine needle aspiration cytology clinic in a hospital out-patient department.
In an attempt to reduce the number of inadequate smears processed by our laboratory and the false negative rate of fine needle aspiration cytodiagnosis, we have introduced a fine needle aspiration cytology service where aspirates are taken by the cytopathologist in a clinic. In the 12 month period since the introduction of this service, the number of inadequate smears fell sharply. Nine per cent of the specimens were inadequate compared with 43% of specimens from other sources. The establishment of the clinic resulted in a threefold reduction in the cost of diagnosing breast lesions.
Kocjan
G
G
Department of Histopathology, University College and Middlesex School of Medicine, Middlesex Hospital, London.
D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000191:economics*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003581:Cytodiagnosis / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000191:economics*; D010337:Pathology Department, Hospital / Q000191:economics*; D010338:Pathology, Clinical / Q000191:economics