Analysis of demographic data obtained from pathology records

Pathologists commonly analyse patient data obtained from pathology records. Such information is useful in that it might provide an indication of changing patterns of disease, or of the aetio-pathogenesis of a disease process, but such data is seldom standardised.

To determine to what extent the lack of standardisation may influence the resultant data and the conclusions drawn.

Pathology reports of all cysts diagnosed from 1994 to 2004 were retrieved. The diagnosis and site of the cyst, and the age, gender and race of patient were analysed. Comparative data from 1958 to 1992 was obtained from the text "Cysts of the oral regions". The data from the different periods was statistically compared. Only the four most common cysts were included: radicular, dentigerous, odontogenic keratocyst and nasopalatine duct cysts.

There was no difference in frequency and site of cysts or in age of patients. Statistically significant differences were found in the gender and race comparisons.

Do the differences reflect a changing pattern of disease or are they due to changes in the demographics of the patient pool from which the surgical specimens were obtained? We favour the latter. Awareness of the fact that data from either survey is not reliable due to lack of standardisation is pertinent to avoid drawing fundamental conclusions from such data.