Cancer Diagnosis Important Statistics you need to Know.......
From published medical articles....
*In a study titled "Institutional pathology consultation" conducted by a big cancer center, the review of 715 cases by a second pathologist showed major discrepancy that impacted the patient's health outcome in 6% of cases. This means that according to this published article by Tsung JS, from the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Koo Foundation, Sun Yat-Sen Cancer Center, Taipei, the chance of missing a cancer diagnosis or over-diagnosing a case as cancer approaches as much as 6% of cases.*
| Total Cases Examined | No Discrepancy | Minor Discrepancy | Major Discrepancy |
| 715 | 633 | 35 | 42 |
| Percentage of cases examined | No Discrepancy | Minor Discrepancy | Major Discrepancy |
| 100% | 89% | 5% | 6% |
Also, according to this article, the author suggested the following: "As the Association of Directors of Anatomic and Surgical Pathology recommended, second pathology review should be standard practice. It is necessary that our major Pathology Association and Societies adopt a strong position on this matter to influence government or insurance company to pay for this service rendered by pathologists."
A second pathology review is not currently required for pathology practices in the United States. ConfirmPath will offer you the chance to obtain a second look to confirm your pathology diagnosis.
*Another Study titled 'Patient safety in anatomic pathology: measuring discrepancy frequencies and causes*' was conducted by "Raab SS, Nakhleh RE and Ruby SG" in the department of pathology, University of Pittsburgh, UPMC Shadyside Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pa. This study concluded that "Although the majority of discrepancies had no effect on patient care, 5.3% had a moderate or marked effect on patient care". In other words this study observed an average of 5.3% of pathology cases that have major discrepancy after a second pathologist review. Major discrepancies observed included changing malignant diagnosis to benign, changing benign diagnosis to malignant and other changes that would seriously affect the treatment modalities and patient's prognosis.
*Measuring the value of review of pathology material by a second pathologist.
Am J Clin Pathol. 2006 May;125(5):737-9. Renshaw AA, Gould EW.
PMID: 16707375 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
* Information obtained from the medical literature published articles. ConfirmPath LLC studies and analyzes published information and the presented data and charts were prepared from analysis of the published information.
