RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Audit of medical (non-targeted) liver biopsy specimen quality, pathology reporting and effect on patient management
JF Journal of Clinical Pathology
JO J Clin Pathol
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Association of Clinical Pathologists
SP 498
OP 502
DO 10.1136/jclinpath-2020-207366
VO 75
IS 7
A1 Sidhant Seth
A1 Ewan H Forrest
A1 Judith M Morris
A1 Mathis Heydtmann
A1 Prakash Konanahalli
A1 Gabriele Kohnen
A1 Karin A Oien
YR 2022
UL http://jcp.bmj.com/content/75/7/498.abstract
AB Aims To evaluate our medical liver pathology practice and its influence on patient management, using audit templates published by the UK Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath).Methods We audited medical liver biopsies reported in our centre in 2019 using RCPath proformas. Data were collected from pathology reports and corresponding electronic patient record.Results 60 cases were selected for audit from 135 eligible biopsies reported in 2019. 58/60 cases were core biopsies and 2/60 were laparoscopic wedge biopsies. 53/57 (93%) core biopsies with available data met RCPath adequacy criteria (length >15 mm and/or ≥6 portal tracts). Most reports (57/60; 95%) were judged to have helped patient management. 25/60 (42%) biopsy reports helped to clarify the clinical diagnosis and 48/60 (80%) led to altered management.Conclusions We demonstrate the utility of the RCPath audit templates, highlighting the clinical value of medical liver biopsies in the diagnostic work-up and management of patients with liver disease.