Cost-Conscious Colposcopy: A Single-Institution Review of Biopsy Submission Practices and Outcomes

Distribution of cervical dysplasia may influence approach for excisional procedures. Separating colposcopy biopsies into multiple specimen cups for pathologic evaluation incurs additional costs. The authors aimed to determine whether the practice of separating biopsy specimens impacts patient outcomes.

A retrospective review of all colposcopy cases from a single institution was performed. A total of 1,331 cases were reviewed from January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2019. Multibiopsy cohorts were separated by number of specimen cups received by pathology (single or multiple). Cohorts were compared for histology, need for excisional procedure, and final excisional pathology results. Specimen processing fees were acquired from the Department of Pathology ($70/specimen). Statistical analysis performed on MINITAB using Pearson chi-square and Fisher exact tests.

Excisional procedures were required by 30.4% (86/283) of multiple specimen submissions compared with 28.2% (154/547) of single specimen cup submissions ( p = .50). There was a higher, although not statistically significant, rate of additional procedures in the multiple specimen cup cohort (8.8 vs 2.9% [ p = .08]). Malignancy diagnosis was equivalent in each cohort. Cost analysis revealed adopting a single specimen cup model would reduce costs up to approximately $30,000/year.

Patient outcomes were not improved by the practice of submitting multiple specimen cups. Given the additional cost associated with separating specimens, the authors recommend during routine colposcopy that all cervical biopsies be sent for evaluation as a single pathology specimen unless a lesion of concern is identified in an area not normally excised during traditional excisional procedures.