Rapid On Site Evaluation (ROSE): A Pathologists' Perspective

Rapid on site evaluation (ROSE) has been recognized as a safeguard to help ensure adequate aspirate or biopsy sample is present for diagnostic evaluation. The method involves having a pathologist (generally a cytopathologist) on site during specimen collection to allow for feedback for the performing proceduralist. ROSE can allow for appropriate ancillary tests to be collected at the time of biopsy (eg, flow cytometry or cultures), fewer passes in the event of adequate lesional representation on initial pass(es), or adjusting the biopsy target. This article was written from the pathologists' perspective in terms of things that improve their ability to be of value on site. As you might imagine, a lot of it comes down to communication; in a sense taking advantage of the opportunity of having both the radiologist and pathologist in the same room. While not every institution has the staffing to provide ROSE, for those that do it's a good exercise to occasionally sit down and examine how to get the most out of the unique collaboration that is ROSE.