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Discrepancy rates in liver biopsy reporting
  1. Richard Colling1,
  2. Clare Verrill1,
  3. Eve Fryer1,
  4. Lai Mun Wang1,
  5. Kenneth Fleming2
  1. 1Cellular Pathology, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, Oxford, UK
  2. 2Medical Sciences Division, Oxford University, Oxford, UK
  1. Correspondence to Dr Richard Colling, Cellular Pathology, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK; rtcolling{at}gmail.com

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.

  • Liver
  • Histopathology
  • Reports
  • Quality Control

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