Freeing the data from cytology databases in order to improve the quality of cytology

Abstract

Introduction To review how changes in data storage and analysis can impact quality and quality assessment in cytology. Methods Review of the literature. Results All quality assessment is dependent on the data available for review and the methods available for evaluation. Current laboratory information systems (LISs) incorporate both a relational or hierarchical database and built in methods to analyze current quality assessment standards. In contrast, most information systems outside of medicine are separating data storage from analysis, allowing increasingly more sophisticated forms of evaluation. Conclusion There is an opportunity for improvement in cytology by improving the way data can be extracted and analyzed from the cytology LIS.

Cytology should create structured data sets without using synoptic reporting

“…However, for quality assurance and research purposes it may be advantageous to extract data from multiple reports into a structured data set (such as an Excel [Microsoft, Redmond WA] spread sheet or SQL table [an open source relational database]). Indeed, many if not most quality assurance programs that are already built into laboratory information systems (LIS) are structured as SQL databases, although there is only limited interoperability between different LIS systems 1 . There are many different ways to create these structured data sets from the current free text pathology and cytology reports.…”

“…Indeed, many if not most quality assurance programs that are already built into laboratory information systems (LIS) are structured as SQL databases, although there is only limited interoperability between different LIS systems. 1 There are many different ways to create these structured data sets from the current free text pathology and cytology reports. The College of American Pathologists (CAP) has spent the last 35 years promoting their version of synoptic reporting to create structured data sets from surgical pathology reports.…”