[Pathological form in breast cancer: setting and evaluation of a professional pratice].
OBJECTIVE
According to national recommendations, the surgical oncologic specimens addressed to a pathology department must have the required clinical information. The objectives of this study are to evaluate the quality of filling out a pathology form used in breast pathology, to specify the nonconformity consequences on breast management, on histology report and to define modes of action in order to obtain an increase in the number of correct pathology forms.


METHODS
It is a prospective study on pathology forms transmitted with tumorectomy for cancers or microcalcifications filled out by three surgeons from the 1st October, 2004 to the 31st April, 2005.


RESULTS
Two hundred and fifty-nine pathology forms were analyzed. There were not correctly filled out in a third of the cases. Nonconformity concerns only one preset information in 69% of pathology forms and is variable according to the surgeons (14 to 31%). The chapters least informed are "lesion" and "type of surgery". These nonconformities involve additional work for the pathologist either because the missing information must be found or because the specimen management must be modified.


CONCLUSIONS
The prefilled pathology form is a guarantee of quality control. In our study, in 70% of cases, they are accurate. To improve this conformity rate, quality improvement plans must be implemented.
Barré
Maxime
M
Service de gynécologie, CHU de Nantes, 44093 Nantes cedex 1, France.
Classe
Jean-Marc
JM
Dravet
François
F
Dupré
Pierre-François
PF
Loussouarn
Delphine
D
Toquet
Claire
C
Sagan
Christine
C
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005568:Forms and Records Control / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005602:France; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008408:Mastectomy; D008499:Medical Records / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010336:Pathology / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000592:standards*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013503:Surgery Department, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data