Trends in the use of gross and frozen section pathological consultations during partial or radical nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma

David C. Miller, Rajal B. Shah, Aron Bruhn, Rodger Madison, Christopher S. Saigal

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: There is no consensus regarding the role of intraoperative pathological consultation during kidney cancer surgery. Accordingly intraoperative pathological consultation use is susceptible to variation based on nonclinical factors. We explored this hypothesis by evaluating national trends in the use of intraoperative pathological consultation during radical or partial nephrectomy with time, across regions, and by patient and provider characteristics. Materials and Methods: Using linked Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results-Medicare data we identified a cohort of patients who underwent partial or radical nephrectomy from 1991 to 2002. In each case we ascertained corresponding Medicare claims for gross and/or frozen section intraoperative pathological consultation. We assessed variations in the use of intraoperative pathological consultation by year of treatment and geographic region as well as by patient and provider characteristics. Results: We identified 7,507 cases treated with partial (600 or 8.0%) or radical (6,907 or 92.0%) nephrectomy from 1991 through 2002. Of cases treated with radical nephrectomy 744 (10.8%) and 843 (12.2%) received gross and frozen section intraoperative pathological consultation, respectively. Of cases treated with partial nephrectomy 67 (11.2%) had an intraoperative gross consultation and 323 (53.8%) had a frozen section evaluation. Use of intraoperative pathological consultation (gross or frozen section) during partial and radical nephrectomy varied based on patient demographics, United States Census region, and Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results registry (p <0.05). Intraoperative pathological consultation during radical nephrectomy differed by year of treatment (p <0.05). Intraoperative pathological consultation use also varied based on provider characteristics (p <0.05). Conclusions: Intraoperative pathological consultation use during kidney cancer surgery varies with time, across geographic regions and based on patient demographics and broadly defined provider characteristics. These data provide context for future studies seeking to refine the use of intraoperative pathological consultation in this clinical setting.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)461-467
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Urology
Volume179
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2008
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Frozen sections
  • Kidney
  • Kidney neoplasms
  • Pathology, surgical
  • Trends

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Urology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Trends in the use of gross and frozen section pathological consultations during partial or radical nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this