THE IMPACT OF HISTOLOGICAL REVIEW ON CLINICAL MANAGEMENT OF TESTICULAR CANCER

Accurate histological diagnosis and staging are critically important i n determining the optimal management of patients with testicular cance r. We have assessed the importance of histological review of ''outside '' pathology reports from 87 patients referred to the Urological Cance r Research Unit. In 28 patients (32%), the reviewed pathology report d iffered from the outside report. In 10 of these patients (11%), the pa thology review resulted in a change of treatment or prognosis from tha t which would have obtained in the absence of such histological review . Pathology review at a major cancer centre with a subspecialist inter est in tumour pathology and a large experience in the management of ge rm cell malignancy is an essential first step in the treatment of test icular cancer.