The Endoscopically Normal Colon: Is Biopsy Justifiable?
The Endoscopically Normal Colon: Is Biopsy Justifiable?
This retrospective study was carried out in the cellular pathology department at Southampton General Hospital, UK. The department operates a specialist reporting service within a large teaching hospital. Using the laboratory computer database (Masterlab), a search was performed using the specimen entry coding system to retrieve cases logged as 'colonic mapping biopsies' (coded COXM) between January and October 2007. Information reported by the endoscopy unit was correlated with the relevant pathology report for each case. The data were anonymised and entered onto an excel spreadsheet for further analysis. No formal slide review was carried out as the initial histological assessments had all been performed by specialist gastrointestinal pathologists. No alterations to individual case management were made as a result of this work.
Design and Setting
This retrospective study was carried out in the cellular pathology department at Southampton General Hospital, UK. The department operates a specialist reporting service within a large teaching hospital. Using the laboratory computer database (Masterlab), a search was performed using the specimen entry coding system to retrieve cases logged as 'colonic mapping biopsies' (coded COXM) between January and October 2007. Information reported by the endoscopy unit was correlated with the relevant pathology report for each case. The data were anonymised and entered onto an excel spreadsheet for further analysis. No formal slide review was carried out as the initial histological assessments had all been performed by specialist gastrointestinal pathologists. No alterations to individual case management were made as a result of this work.
Source...