title: The validity of the Royal College of Pathologists' colorectal cancer minimum dataset within a population.
abstract: Quality of colorectal cancer pathology reports is related to individual patient prognosis and future treatment options. This study sought to validate the prognostic utility of the Royal College of Pathologists minimum pathology dataset (MPD), regarded as the 'gold standard', within a population. Retrospective study of the survival of 5947 surgically resected colorectal cancer patients for whom an MPD had been collected. Variables were related to survival. The study population was representative of the Yorkshire colorectal cancer population. Survival was poorer in older patients and colonic tumours and improved over the study period. Local invasion, total number of lymph nodes retrieved, nodal stage, extramural vascular invasion, peritoneal involvement, distance of invasion beyond the muscularis propria, and in rectal cancers, circumferential resection margin involvement and distance to this margin were all validated as of prognostic significance within a population. Failure to report extramural vascular invasion, peritoneal involvement or circumferential resection margin status was associated with a worse survival than absence of the factor. All variables within the Royal College of Pathologists MPD are of prognostic significance. High-quality pathology reports are essential in providing accurate prognostic information and guiding optimal patient management.
authors.affiliation: Pathology & Tumour Biology, Leeds Institute for Molecular Medicine, St James's University Hospital, University of Leeds, Level 4 Wellcome Brenner Building, Beckett Street Leeds, Leeds LS9 7TF, UK. nicola.maughan@leedsth.nhs.uk
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Maughan
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Forman
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Quirke
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016208:Databases, Factual; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D006113:United Kingdom