title: Opportunities for Improvement in Pathology Reporting of Childhood Nonrhabdomyosarcoma Soft Tissue Sarcomas:  A Report From Children's Oncology Group (COG) Study ARST0332.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Treatment of soft tissue tumors in young patients relies on the diagnostic information conveyed in the pathology report. We examined pathology reports from Children's Oncology Group ARST0332 for inclusion of data elements required in published guidelines.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pathology reports for 551 eligible patients were examined for required data elements defined by the College of American Pathologists, including tissue type, procedure, tumor site, tumor maximum diameter, macroscopic extent of tumor, histologic type, mitotic rate, extent of necrosis, tumor grade, margin status, use of ancillary studies, and pathologic stage.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 65 (12%) of 551 reports included all required data elements. Of reports containing synoptic templates, 57% were complete.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study reveals significant opportunity to improve the quality of pathology reports in young patients with soft tissue tumors. Use of templates or checklists improves completeness of reports.
authors: From the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital of Colorado, Aurora jennifer.black2@childrenscolorado.org.
authors: Jennifer O
authors: JO
authors: Black
authors: Department of Pathology, Microbiology, Immunology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN.
authors: Cheryl M
authors: CM
authors: Coffin
authors: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital, Los Angeles, CA.
authors: David M
authors: DM
authors: Parham
authors: Division of Hematology/Oncology, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA.
authors: Douglas S
authors: DS
authors: Hawkins
authors: Department of Oncology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN.
authors: Rose A
authors: RA
authors: Speights
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA.
authors: Sheri L
authors: SL
authors: Spunt
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D008499:Medical Records / Q000592:standards*; D010340:Pathology, Surgical / Q000592:standards*; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000473:pathology*; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: Pathology report; Pediatric oncology; Quality; Sarcoma