• Maurice B Loughrey, Fleur Webster, Mark J Arends, Ian Brown, Lawrence J Burgart, Chris Cunningham, Jean-Francois Flejou, Sanjay Kakar, Richard Kirsch, Motohiro Kojima, Alessandro Lugli, Christophe Rosty, Kieran Sheahan, Nicholas P West, Richard H Wilson, and Iris D Nagtegaal.
• Centre for Public Health, Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK.
• Ann. Surg. 2022 Mar 1; 275 (3): e549e561e549-e561.

ObjectiveThe aim of this study to describe a new international dataset for pathology reporting of colorectal cancer surgical specimens, produced under the auspices of the International Collaboration on Cancer Reporting (ICCR).BackgroundQuality of pathology reporting and mutual understanding between colorectal surgeon, pathologist and oncologist are vital to patient management. Some pathology parameters are prone to variable interpretation, resulting in differing positions adopted by existing national datasets.MethodsThe ICCR, a global alliance of major pathology institutions with links to international cancer organizations, has developed and ratified a rigorous and efficient process for the development of evidence-based, structured datasets for pathology reporting of common cancers. Here we describe the production of a dataset for colorectal cancer resection specimens by a multidisciplinary panel of internationally recognized experts.ResultsThe agreed dataset comprises eighteen core (essential) and seven non-core (recommended) elements identified from a review of current evidence. Areas of contention are addressed, some highly relevant to surgical practice, with the aim of standardizing multidisciplinary discussion. The summation of all core elements is considered to be the minimum reporting standard for individual cases. Commentary is provided, explaining each element's clinical relevance, definitions to be applied where appropriate for the agreed list of value options and the rationale for considering the element as core or non-core.ConclusionsThis first internationally agreed dataset for colorectal cancer pathology reporting promotes standardization of pathology reporting and enhanced clinicopathological communication. Widespread adoption will facilitate international comparisons, multinational clinical trials and help to improve the management of colorectal cancer globally.Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

6 keywords...

hide…