title: Failure to diagnose pathology: an avoidable complication in oral and maxillofacial surgery.
abstract: The routine submission of abnormal tissue for histopathologic diagnosis is a vital link in the appropriate management of patients. Receipt of a biopsy report brings the usual case to its full conclusion. Patients are best served when clinical impressions are verified by histopathologic examination, and this in turn will reduce the likelihood of successful malpractice litigation for failure or delay in diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Oral Pathology Associates, Inc., 11500 West Olympic Boulevard, Suite 390, Los Angeles, CA 90064, USA. rmelrose@msn.com
authors.forename: Raymond J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Melrose
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000556:secondary; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000564:Ameloblastoma / Q000473:pathology; D001706:Biopsy; D018277:Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017512:Lichenoid Eruptions / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008318:Malpractice; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary; D009455:Neurofibroma / Q000473:pathology; D009808:Odontogenic Tumors / Q000473:pathology; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000473:pathology; D059039:Standard of Care; D013515:Surgery, Oral