Patient safety in anatomic pathology: measuring discrepancy frequencies and causes.
BACKGROUND
Anatomic pathology discrepancy frequencies have not been rigorously studied.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the frequency of anatomic pathology discrepancies and the causes of these discrepancies.


METHODS
Participants in the College of American Pathologists Q-Probes program self-reported the number of anatomic pathology discrepancies in their laboratories by prospectively performing secondary review (post-sign-out) of 100 surgical pathology or cytology specimens. Reasons for the secondary review included conferences, external review, internal quality assurance policy, and physician request.


METHODS
Seventy-four laboratories self-reported data.


METHODS
Frequency of anatomic pathology discrepancy; type of discrepancy (ie, change in margin status, change in diagnosis, change in patient information, or typographic error); effect of discrepancy on patient outcome (ie, no harm, near miss, or harm); and clarity of report.


RESULTS
The mean and median laboratory discrepancy frequencies were 6.7% and 5.1%, respectively. Forty-eight percent of all discrepancies were due to a change within the same category of interpretation (eg, 1 tumor type was changed to another tumor type). Twenty-one percent of all discrepancies were due to a change across categories of interpretation (eg, a benign diagnosis was changed to a malignant diagnosis). Although the majority of discrepancies had no effect on patient care, 5.3% had a moderate or marked effect on patient care.Conclusions.-This study establishes a mean multi-institutional discrepancy frequency (related to secondary review) of 6.7%.
Raab
Stephen S
SS
Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, UPMC Shadyside Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pa 15232, USA. raabss@msx.upmc.edu
Nakhleh
Raouf E
RE
Ruby
Stephen G
SG
D006801:Humans; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010338:Pathology, Clinical / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care