Quality in surgical pathology communication and reporting

Abstract

Context: Communication in surgical pathology is complex and includes multiple facets.

Objective: To discuss different aspects of pathology practice that represent quality communication in surgical pathology.

Data sources: Literature review.

Conclusions: Achieving quality communication in surgical pathology is dependent on pathologists addressing multiple situations including managing physicians' expectations for turnaround time and ancillary testing, understanding what information is needed to manage the patient at intraoperative consultation and in the final report, assuring adequate report content with the use of synoptic checklist reports, and using report formatting suggestions that aid report comprehension. Finally, the pathologists' availability to answer questions and discuss cases is an important factor in effective communication, including their willingness to verbally report urgent and significant unexpected diagnoses to ensure that important diagnoses are not overlooked.