title: Integrating pathology and radiology disciplines: an emerging opportunity?
abstract: Pathology and radiology form the core of cancer diagnosis, yet the workflows of both specialties remain ad hoc and occur in separate "silos," with no direct linkage between their case accessioning and/or reporting systems, even when both departments belong to the same host institution. Because both radiologists' and pathologists' data are essential to making correct diagnoses and appropriate patient management and treatment decisions, this isolation of radiology and pathology workflows can be detrimental to the quality and outcomes of patient care. These detrimental effects underscore the need for pathology and radiology workflow integration and for systems that facilitate the synthesis of all data produced by both specialties. With the enormous technological advances currently occurring in both fields, the opportunity has emerged to develop an integrated diagnostic reporting system that supports both specialties and, therefore, improves the overall quality of patient care.
authors.affiliation: Office of Science and Data Policy, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, US Department of Health and Human Services, 200 Independence Ave, SW Washington, DC 20201, USA. james.sorace@hhs.gov
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sorace
authors.forename: Denise R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Aberle
authors.forename: Dena
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Elimam
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lawvere
authors.forename: Ossama
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tawfik
authors.forename: W Dean
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Wallace
mesh_terms: D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends*; D006751:Hospital Information Systems / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010336:Pathology / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D011871:Radiology / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends