Track

Clinical Studies

Abstract

Clinicopathologic correlation is an essential function of dermatopathologists and dermatologists within the realm of diagnostic dermatology. However, the impact and effectiveness of performing clinicopathologic correlation remains an understudied topic, lacking objective quantitative measures. In our single-institution prospective quantitatively-based study, we examined all cases signed out by dermatopathology over a three month period, with analysis of how often clinicopathologic correlation was requested and how frequently it impacted the final diagnosis rendered by the dermatopathologist (e.g. adding specificity to the sign-out, changing the final diagnosis, etc). This quantitative analysis of the impact of performing clinicopathologic correlation during dermatopathology sign-out can help to inform the responsible practice of dermatopathology in an increasingly interconnected healthcare system where clinical information is more readily available than ever before.