The importance of reviewing pathology specimens before Mohs surgery.
BACKGROUND
The review of outside biopsy slides before performing surgery is the standard of care in many surgical specialties. Previous studies have shown high discrepancy rates between the original and second-opinion diagnoses. The frequency with which this practice changes the diagnosis and management of patients undergoing Mohs surgery is undocumented in the literature. It is standard practice at our institution to review all outside biopsy slides before Mohs surgery.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate how often review of outside biopsies by an internal dermatopathologist changes patients' initial referral diagnosis and subsequent management.


METHODS
This is a retrospective review of all patients referred to Mohs surgery from January 2003 through March 2007. The number of cases in which the diagnosis changed and how this change affected management were recorded.


RESULTS
Seventy-four of 3,345 (2.2%) cases were identified in which the diagnosis changed after review of the biopsy slides. Management was affected in the majority (61%) of cases. Board-certified dermatopathologists originally read nearly half of the biopsies.


CONCLUSIONS
Review of outside biopsy slides before surgery can change the diagnosis in a large proportion of patients, with a resulting change in management. This quality-assurance practice may improve patient care.
Butler
Susan T
ST
Department of Dermatology, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, Missouri 63104, USA.
Youker
Summer R
SR
Mandrell
Joshua
J
Flanagan
Katherine H
KH
Fosko
Scott W
SW
D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy / Q000191:economics; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D015580:Mohs Surgery; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D019564:Unnecessary Procedures
D009418:S100 Proteins