Review of `Outside' Pathology Before Treatment Should Be Mandatory

Weill Medical College Breast Pathology Consultation Service New York Presbyterian Hospital-Cornell Center New York, NY, U.S.A. My own institution has, for many years, had the policy that no cancer therapy (surgical, radiation, or chemotherapy) will be administered unless tissue diagnostic of cancer has been reviewed in our pathology department. The sole exceptions are life-threatening emergencies, such as superior vena cava syndrome. This policy arose following several “horror stories” similar to those related by Dr. Rosen, and has saved many patients from having inappropriate surgey. It has been widely embraced and, in fact, is self-enforced by our clinicians. Compliance is reviewed by our hospital tissue committee, which includes a pathologist member—The Editor.