The effect of interinstitution anatomic pathology consultation on patient care.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of routine interinstitution anatomic pathology consultation on patient evaluation and treatment.


METHODS
All interinstitution anatomic pathology consultation diagnoses made during a 1-year period were compared with the original pathologic diagnoses. Patients with discrepant diagnoses were evaluated after an interval of 1 year to determine the correct clinical diagnosis. The relevance of the pathologic consultation to furthering medical evaluation and treatment was determined from a review of the medical record and when necessary from consultation with the patient's physician.


METHODS
Patients referred to a university hospital.


METHODS
We determined the number of patients with discrepant pathologic diagnoses and whether these diagnoses changed the planned surgical procedure, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or medical evaluation.


RESULTS
Seventy-one (9.1%) discrepant diagnoses were identified among the 777 patients. Of these 71 patients, 45 (63%) demonstrated a change in therapy or clinical evaluation as a result of the interinstitution anatomic pathology consultation. In five of these patients the consultation diagnosis was in error. There was a significantly greater percentage of discordant diagnoses among the cytology and fine-needle aspiration biopsies (21%) as compared with the surgical pathology specimens (7.8%; P < .001).


CONCLUSIONS
Routine interinstitution anatomic pathology consultation resulted in a change in patient evaluation or treatment in 45 (5.8%) of the 777 cases reviewed. Our interinstitution anatomic pathology consultation policy appears to provide useful diagnostic information, which should contribute to improved patient care. However, when a discrepancy is identified, additional consultation or evaluation should be considered.
Abt
A B
AB
Department of Pathology, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Pennsylvania State University, Hershey 17033, USA.
Abt
L G
LG
Olt
G J
GJ
D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010340:Pathology, Surgical; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D012017:Referral and Consultation