title: Discrepancy rates in liver biopsy reporting.
abstract: Medical liver biopsy reporting is challenging, and maintaining competency with small case numbers is potentially difficult. This study evaluates the discrepancies identified in cases referred to a specialist centre between the specialist reports and those of the referring general departments. Fifty consecutive recently referred cases were selected, and original and final reports were compared. Discrepancies were classified as per the Royal College of Pathologists guidelines and scored for potential clinical impact. The overall rate of discrepancy was 38% with most of these due to differences in interpretation of morphology. Seventy per cent of these discrepancies were judged to have major clinical impact (26% of all referred cases). This study highlights the need for robust systems of quality control of liver biopsies in a general setting.
authors: Richard
authors: R
authors: Colling
authors: Clare
authors: C
authors: Verrill
authors: Eve
authors: E
authors: Fryer
authors: Lai Mun
authors: LM
authors: Wang
authors: Kenneth
authors: K
authors: Fleming
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy / Q000592:standards*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003951:Diagnostic Errors / Q000517:prevention & control; D006769:Hospitals, General / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007755:Laboratories, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D015588:Observer Variation; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011786:Quality Control; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies