The validity of negative necropsy reports for metastases in solid organs

Abstract

This communication concerns the statistical significance of negative reports, when solid organs are examined for metastases deep to their surfaces, by standard slicing techniques at necropsy. By taking into account factors influencing tumour detection including slice thickness, metastatic tumour size and number, the probabilities of incidence of false negative reports may be calculated and values for the undetected tumour bulk may be obtained. A graph is reproduced which facilitates the assessment.