Erroneous Patient Tissue Contaminants in 1574 Surgical Pathology Slides: Impact on Diagnostic Error and a Novel Framework for Floater Management.

Context.--Tissue contaminants on histology slides represent a serious risk of diagnostic error. Despite their pervasive presence, published peer-reviewed criteria defining contaminants are lacking. The absence of a standardized diagnostic workup algorithm for contaminants contributes to variation in...

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Publicado en:Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Vol. 148; no. 12; pp. 1413 - 1422
Autores principales: Lamothe, Simon, Peric, Masa, Glickman, Jonathan N., Heher, Yael K.
Formato: algorithm pictorial research tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: College of American Pathologists Dec2024
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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      dt: Dec2024
      vid: 148
      iid: 12
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      pub: College of American Pathologists
      place: Northfield, Illinois
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        10.5858/arpa.2022-0265-OA
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        atl: Erroneous Patient Tissue Contaminants in 1574 Surgical Pathology Slides: Impact on Diagnostic Error and a Novel Framework for Floater Management.
      aug:
        au:
          Lamothe, Simon
          Peric, Masa
          Glickman, Jonathan N.
          Heher, Yael K.
        affil: Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
      sug:
        subj:
          Pathology, Clinical
          Equipment Contamination Classification
          Diagnostic Errors
          Patient Safety
          Histology
          Microscopy
          Equipment Contamination Prevention and Control
          Human Massachusetts
          Massachusetts
          Academic Medical Centers
          Prospective Studies
          Retrospective Design
          Record Review
          Pathologists
          Chromosomes Analysis
          Descriptive Statistics
          In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
          DNA Fingerprinting
          Algorithms
          Specimen Handling
          Histocytological Preparation Techniques
      ab: Context.--Tissue contaminants on histology slides represent a serious risk of diagnostic error. Despite their pervasive presence, published peer-reviewed criteria defining contaminants are lacking. The absence of a standardized diagnostic workup algorithm for contaminants contributes to variation in management, including investigation and reporting by pathologists. Objective.--To study the frequency and type of tissue contaminants on microscopic slides using standardized criteria. Using these data, we propose a taxonomy and algorithm for pathologists on "floater" management, including identification, workup, and reporting, with an eye on patient safety. Design.--A retrospective study arm of 1574 histologic glass slides as well as a prospective study arm of 50 slide contamination events was performed. Using these data we propose a structured classification taxonomy and guidelines for the workup and resolution of tissue contamination events. Results.--In the retrospective arm of the study, we identified reasonably sized benign tissue contaminants on 52 of 1574 slides (3.3%). We found size to be an important parameter for evaluation, among other visual features including location on the slide, folding, ink, and tissue of origin. The prospective arm of the study suggested that overall, pathologists tend to use similar features when determining management of potentially actionable contaminants. We also report successfully used case-based ancillary testing strategies, including fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis of chromosomes and DNA finger-printing. Conclusions.--Tissue contamination events are underreported and represent a patient safety risk. Use of a reproducible classification taxonomy and a standardized algorithm for contaminant workup, management, and reporting may aid pathologists in understanding and reducing risk.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        algorithm
        pictorial
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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