NORTHFIELD, Ill. (October 23, 2024) — The College of American Pathologists (CAP) in collaboration with the Association of Directors of Anatomic and Surgical Pathology (ADASP), has convened an expert interdisciplinary panel to update the 2016 “Interpretive Diagnostic Error Reduction in Surgical Pathology and Cytology” evidence-based guideline. The draft statements are available for public comment through November 13, 2024.
"This guideline update will help us understand if targeted review of surgical pathology or cytology cases reduces the error frequency or increases the rate of error detection compared with no review, random review, or usual review procedures," said guideline co-chair Suzanne M. Dintzis, MD, PhD, FCAP.
This guideline aims to improve the accuracy of diagnoses and reduce the likelihood of interpretive errors in surgical pathology and cytology.
The forthcoming evidence-based guideline includes six draft statements addressing:
- Benefits of secondary review
- Review types, timing and documentation
- Steps to improve grading in poor agreement
Two of these statements are strong recommendations, while four are good practice statements.
"The update will also try to address artificial intelligence," shares co-chair Stephen S. Raab, MD, FCAP. "We hope to share our findings on the use of artificial intelligence in error reduction."
The expert panel will review and consider all comments received as well as additional data from the literature refresh to finalize the recommendations and good practice statements. The guideline manuscript will later be submitted to Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine.
General and specialty surgeons, oncologists, pathologists, histotechnologists, cardiologists, hematologists, cytopathologists, cytotechnologists, nurses, allied health professionals, hospital or laboratory administrators, patient advocacy group representatives, and patients are encouraged to provide feedback on these draft statements.
Following the open comment period, the expert panel will review and consider all comments received as well as additional data from the literature refresh to finalize the recommendations and good practice statements. The final statements will appear in the guideline manuscript and will be available at no cost.
To read and comment on the draft statements, visit cap.org between October 23, 2024 and November 13, 2024.
About the College of American Pathologists
The CAP Pathology and Laboratory Quality Center for Evidence-based Guidelines develops evidence-based guidelines related to the practice of pathology and laboratory medicine. Through this work, the CAP and its members continually improve the quality of diagnostic medicine and patient outcomes.
As the world’s largest organization of board-certified pathologists and leading provider of laboratory accreditation and proficiency testing programs, the College of American Pathologists (CAP) serves patients, pathologists, and the public by fostering and advocating excellence in the practice of pathology and laboratory medicine worldwide. For more information, visit the CAP Newsroom, CAP.org and Yourpathologist.org to watch pathologists at work and see the stories of the patients who trust them with their care.
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