Discrepancies in diagnoses of neuroepithelial neoplasms

Abstract

The percentage of cases with discrepant original and review diagnoses was higher among those originally diagnosed at community hospitals without a neuropathologist than among those originally diagnosed at an academic hospital with a neuropathologist. Clinically significant discrepancies were much more likely to have originated at a community hospital without a neuropathologist. These data highlight the importance of review of brain tumors by a neuropathologist prior to decision-making regarding treatment. A separate implication of this study is that glioma cases selected exclusively from academic or nonacademic institutions in a particular geographic area are unlikely to be representative of all cases occurring in that area.