Difference between revisions of "Waffle diagnosis"
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A '''waffle diagnosis''' is something used to say "I don't know". It is used when a pathologist cannot decide whether something is benign ''or'' suspicious for malignant.<ref name=pmid19373907>{{cite journal |author=Layfield LJ, Morton MJ, Cramer HM, Hirschowitz S |title=Implications of the proposed thyroid fine-needle aspiration category of "follicular lesion of undetermined significance": A five-year multi-institutional analysis |journal=Diagn. Cytopathol. |volume=37 |issue=10 |pages=710–4 |year=2009 |month=October |pmid=19373907 |doi=10.1002/dc.21093 |url=}}</ref> | A '''waffle diagnosis''' is something used to say "I don't know". It is used when a pathologist cannot decide whether something is benign ''or'' suspicious for malignant.<ref name=pmid19373907>{{cite journal |author=Layfield LJ, Morton MJ, Cramer HM, Hirschowitz S |title=Implications of the proposed thyroid fine-needle aspiration category of "follicular lesion of undetermined significance": A five-year multi-institutional analysis |journal=Diagn. Cytopathol. |volume=37 |issue=10 |pages=710–4 |year=2009 |month=October |pmid=19373907 |doi=10.1002/dc.21093 |url=}}</ref> | ||
==Points to remember== | |||
# These diagnoses essentially say "I don't know". | |||
**Pathologists that use 'em too often aren't doing a good job | # Their use should be minimized. | ||
#* The use of these diagnoses are often used as quality measures. | |||
#** Pathologists that use 'em too often aren't doing a good job. | |||
==Examples== | ==Examples== | ||
Revision as of 15:13, 28 February 2011
A waffle diagnosis is something used to say "I don't know". It is used when a pathologist cannot decide whether something is benign or suspicious for malignant.[1]
Points to remember
- These diagnoses essentially say "I don't know".
- Their use should be minimized.
- The use of these diagnoses are often used as quality measures.
- Pathologists that use 'em too often aren't doing a good job.
- The use of these diagnoses are often used as quality measures.
Examples
Cytopathology
- Atypical squamous cell of unknown significance (ASCUS) - gynecologic cytopathology.
- Follicular lesion of unknown significance (FLUS) - thyroid cytopathology.
Surgical pathology
- Atypical small acinar proliferation (ASAP) - prostate gland pathology.
- Indefinite for dysplasia - GI pathology.
References
- ↑ Layfield LJ, Morton MJ, Cramer HM, Hirschowitz S (October 2009). "Implications of the proposed thyroid fine-needle aspiration category of "follicular lesion of undetermined significance": A five-year multi-institutional analysis". Diagn. Cytopathol. 37 (10): 710–4. doi:10.1002/dc.21093. PMID 19373907.