Audit of histopathology reports for melanoma: A case for adopting synoptic reports

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study is to audit degree of completeness of textual histopathology reports generated for melanoma. This is to exemplify the need for adoption of synoptic report format for reporting cancer cases in Nigeria. Materials and Method: Completeness of histopathology reports for all cases of melanoma diagnosed in the histopathology department of a teaching hospital in northwestern Nigeria were audited from 2006 to 2010; followed by departmental presentation on deficient areas and then re-audited from 2011 to 2014. The results were then compared with results of City hospital, Birmingham, United Kingdom, before and after adoption of synoptic report format in that hospital. Results: In the 9 years audited 139 cases of melanoma were diagnosed. In the first 5 years audited overall completeness of issued reports was 36%. This marginally improved to 44% in the following 4 years audited. However, there was no statistically significant improvement in performance (p = 0.1). Conclusion: Adoption of a standardized synoptic report format for histopathological reporting of cancers will improve the quality of reports issued to clinicians.