title: Quality of pathology reports for advanced ovarian cancer: are we missing essential information? An audit of 479 pathology reports from the EORTC-GCG 55971/NCIC-CTG OV13 neoadjuvant trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the quality of surgical pathology reports of advanced stage ovarian, fallopian tube and primary peritoneal cancer. This quality assurance project was performed within the EORTC-GCG 55971/NCIC-CTG OV13 study comparing primary debulking surgery followed by chemotherapy with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and interval debulking surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four hundred and seventy nine pathology reports from 40 institutions in 11 different countries were checked for the following quality indicators: macroscopic description of all specimens, measuring and weighing of major specimens, description of tumour origin and differentiation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All specimens were macroscopically described in 92.3% of the reports. All major samples were measured and weighed in 59.9% of the reports. A description of the origin of the tumour was missing in 20.5% of reports of the primary debulking group and in 23.4% of the interval debulking group. Assessment of tumour differentiation was missing in 10% of the reports after primary debulking and in 20.8% of the reports after interval debulking. Completeness of reports is positively correlated with accrual volume and adversely with hospital volume or type of hospital (academic versus non-academic). Quality of reports differs significantly by country.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This audit of ovarian cancer pathology reports reveals that in a substantial number of reports basic pathologic data are missing, with possible adverse consequences for the quality of cancer care. Specialisation by pathologists and the use of standardised synoptic reports can lead to improved quality of reporting. Further research is needed to better define pre- and post-operative diagnostic criteria for ovarian cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: EORTC Headquarters, Brussels, Belgium. leenverleye@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Leen
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Verleye
authors.forename: Petronella B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Ottevanger
authors.forename: Gunnar B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Kristensen
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ehlen
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Maria E L
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: van der Burg
authors.forename: Nick S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.forename: René H M
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Verheijen
authors.forename: Katja N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Gaarenstroom
authors.forename: Berit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mosgaard
authors.forename: Jose M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Seoane
authors.forename: Jacobus
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van der Velden
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lotocki
authors.forename: Winette
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: van der Graaf
authors.forename: Björn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Penninckx
authors.forename: Corneel
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Coens
authors.forename: Gavin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stuart
authors.forename: Ignace
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vergote
mesh_terms: D003625:Data Collection / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006276:Health Facility Size; D006801:Humans; D008485:Medical Audit; D008499:Medical Records / Q000592:standards*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D010338:Pathology, Clinical / Q000592:standards*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care