Current practices in prostate pathology reporting: results from a survey of genitourinary and general pathologists

Standardizing pathology reporting protocols through peer consensus review is critical for the best quality of care metrics. Reporting heterogeneity due to discrepancies among professional societies and practice patterns may lead to heterogeneous management and treatment approaches. This issue prompted a multi-institutional survey of pathologists to address potential similarities or differences in trends and practice patterns in prostate pathology reporting worldwide.

A REDCap survey was distributed among 175 pathologists worldwide, recruited through invitations and social media. The response rate among invited pathologists was 83%. The practice locations were as follows: North America (USA, Canada, and Mexico, 62%), Europe (17%), Australia/New Zealand (3%), Central/South America (2%), Asia (13%), and Africa (2%). Most pathologists practiced for <5 years (28%). A genitourinary (GU) pathology fellowship was completed by 37%, 58% practiced in a subspecialized setting, and 43% in academia. Reporting includes (63%) or subtracts (37%) intervening benign tissue. Both Gleason score and Grade Groups (GG)s were reported by 96% of responders, whereas 94% report percent pattern 4 (%4). Aggregate grading and volume estimation in undesignated cores with different grades in the same jar are reported by 73% and 54% for systematic biopsies, and 83% and 62% for targeted biopsies, respectively. Cribriform morphology was reported by 81%. For presumed intraductal carcinoma (IDC), 89% use basal cell markers when isolated (iIDC), 82% with GG1 cancer, and 37% with ≥GG2. iIDC or IDC associated with GG1 or with ≥GG2 was not graded by 90%, 78%, and 70%, respectively. In radical prostatectomies, 90% report %4, but only 53% report it if the overall grade is ≥7. A tumour with Gleason 3 + 3 = 6 and <5% pattern 4 was graded as GG2 by 64%. A <5% cutoff for defining tertiary pattern was used by 74%, and 80% report >5% pattern 4 or 5 as a secondary pattern. Grading was assigned based on the dominant nodule by 59%. Finally, reporting practices were significantly associated with demographic characteristics.

Although most issues are agreed upon, significant discordance is identified among societies and pathologists in different practice settings. We hope this survey will serve as the basis for future studies and new collaborative approaches to more standardized reporting practices.