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.
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.
Verleye
Leen
L
EORTC Headquarters, Brussels, Belgium. leenverleye@yahoo.com
Ottevanger
Petronella B
PB
Kristensen
Gunnar B
GB
Ehlen
Tom
T
Johnson
Nick
N
van der Burg
Maria E L
ME
Reed
Nick S
NS
Verheijen
René H M
RH
Gaarenstroom
Katja N
KN
Mosgaard
Berit
B
Seoane
Jose M
JM
van der Velden
Jacobus
J
Lotocki
Robert
R
van der Graaf
Winette
W
Penninckx
Björn
B
Coens
Corneel
C
Stuart
Gavin
G
Vergote
Ignace
I
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