Standardized synoptic cancer pathology reporting: A population‐based approach

TLDR

Cancer pathology reports contain critical information for patient management, surveillance, resource planning, and quality purposes, and the College of American Pathologists has defined validated checklists for synoptic reporting. The study outlines the implementation of CAP standards in a large Canadian province over three years. CAP standards were applied across the province’s pathology reporting system over a three‑year period. This implementation improved rates of synoptic reporting and completeness of cancer pathology reporting. © 2009 Wiley‑Liss, Inc.; J.

Abstract

Abstract Cancer pathology reports contain information which is critical for patient management and for cancer surveillance, resource planning, and quality purposes. The College of American Pathologists (CAP) has defined scientifically validated content of checklists that form the basis for synoptic cancer pathology reporting. We outline how the CAP standards were implemented in a large Canadian province over a 3‐year period resulting in improvements in rates of synoptic reporting and completeness of cancer pathology reporting. J. Surg. Oncol. 2009;99:517–524. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.