Article Text

Download PDFPDF
Prostate needle biopsy processing: a survey of laboratory practice across Europe
  1. Murali Varma1,
  2. Daniel M Berney2,
  3. Ferran Algaba3,
  4. Philippe Camparo4,
  5. Eva Compérat5,
  6. David F R Griffiths1,
  7. Glen Kristiansen6,
  8. Antonio Lopez-Beltran7,
  9. Rodolfo Montironi8,
  10. Lars Egevad9
  1. 1Department of Pathology, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK
  2. 2Department of Pathology, Queen Mary, University of London, St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, UK
  3. 3Department of Pathology, Fundación Puigvert-University Autonomous, Barcelona, Spain
  4. 4Department of Pathology, Hôpital Foch, Paris, France
  5. 5Department of Pathology, Hôpital la Pitié Salpêtrière, Paris, France
  6. 6Department of Pathology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
  7. 7Department of Pathology, Cordoba University Medical School, Cordoba, Spain
  8. 8Department of Pathology, Polytechnic University of the Marche Region, Ancona, Italy
  9. 9Department of Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
  1. Correspondence to Dr Murali Varma, Department of Histopathology, University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK; wptmv{at}cf.ac.uk

Abstract

Aim To determine the degree of variation in the handling of prostate needle biopsies (PBNx) in laboratories across Europe.

Methods A web based survey was emailed to members of the European Network of Uropathology and the British Association of Urological Pathologists.

Results Responses were received from 241 laboratories in 15 countries. PNBx were generally taken by urologists (93.8%) or radiologists (23.7%) but in 8.7% were also taken by non-medical personnel such as radiographers, nurses or biomedical assistants. Of the responding laboratories, 40.8% received cores in separate containers, 42.3% processed one core/block, 54.2% examined three levels/block, 49.4% examined one H&E section/level and 56.1% retained spare sections for potential immunohistochemistry. Of the laboratories, 40.9% retained unstained spares for over a year while 36.2% discarded spares within 1 month of reporting. Only two (0.8%) respondents routinely performed immunohistochemistry on all PNBx. There were differences in laboratory practice between the UK and the rest of Europe (RE). Procurement of PNBx by non-medical personnel was more common in the UK. RE laboratories more commonly received each core in a separate container, processed one core/block, examined fewer levels/block and examined more H&E sections/level. RE laboratories also retained spares for potential immunohistochemistry less often and for shorter periods. Use of p63 as the sole basal cell marker was more common in RE.

Conclusions There are marked differences in procurement, handling and processing of PNBx in laboratories across Europe. This data can help the development of best practice guidelines.

  • Prostate
  • Laboratory Tests
  • Uropathology

Statistics from Altmetric.com

Request Permissions

If you wish to reuse any or all of this article please use the link below which will take you to the Copyright Clearance Center’s RightsLink service. You will be able to get a quick price and instant permission to reuse the content in many different ways.