DA-REPOCH Versus R-CHOP for the Treatment of Activated B-Cell Subtype Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: A Community Center Experience.

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) represents around one quarter of non-Hodgkin lymphomas in both the United States and globally. The activated B-cell (ABC) subtype of DLBCL is associated with higher relapse rates and a worse prognosis when treated with standard regimens in comparison to other subtypes of DLBCL. Recent studies have demonstrated a potential benefit with combination of dose-adjusted rituximab, etoposide, prednisone, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, and doxorubicin (DA-REPOCH) in comparison to standard combination chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP) in ABC DLBCL patients. We aimed to see if there was any benefit on progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in a pooled patient population from a community oncology practice with the use of DA-REPOCH in ABC DLBCL. Our study did not reveal a statistically significant advantage in either PFS or OS with DA-REPOCH; however, a smaller percentage or patients progressed or relapsed when treated with DA-REPOCH. While the toxicity profile was similar, a higher percentage of patients receiving R-CHOP experienced grade 3 or higher toxicities. A prospective trial of R-CHOP versus DA-REPOCH in patients with the ABC subtype of DLBCL is warranted to further determine a potential benefit to DA-REPOCH in this patient population.

P16 and HPV discordance in metastatic carcinoma of cervical lymph nodes of unknown primary.

The prognostic utility of HPV in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) and non-OPSCC as has been well documented. Currently, a standardized IHC scoring system does not exist and is needed to define HPV positivity. We have recently seen a patient that provides a caution in using p16 status as a diagnostic aid.

Copper deficiency mimicking myelodysplastic syndrome.

Copper deficiency is a rare cause of pancytopenia that may be mistaken for myelodysplastic syndrome. Cytoplasmic vacuolization in erythroid and myeloid precursors is found on bone marrow examination. Patients with a history of abdominal surgery who present with anemia and neutropenia with dysplastic changes should have copper levels checked.

Defining error in anatomic pathology.

CONTEXT: Although much has been said and written about medical error and about error in pathology since the publication of the Institute of Medicine's report on medical error in 1999, precise definitions of what constitutes error in anatomic pathology do not exist for the specialty. Without better definitions, it is impossible to accurately judge errors in pathology. The lack of standardized definitions has implications for patient care and for the legal judgment of malpractice. OBJECTIVES: To review the goals of anatomic pathology, to discuss the problems inherent in applying these goals to the judgment of error in pathology, to offer definitions of major and minor errors in pathology, and to discuss error in anatomic pathology in relation to the classic laboratory test cycle. DATA SOURCES: Existing literature. CONCLUSION: Definitions for major and minor error in anatomic pathology are proffered, and anatomic pathology error is characterized in the classic test cycle.

Error and error reduction in pathology.

CONTEXT: Since publication of the Institute of Medicine's report on medical error in late 1999, there has been widespread interest in improving patient safety and in error reduction in all disciplines of medicine. In fields other than medicine, considerable knowledge has been obtained concerning error and error reduction. This body of knowledge can be successfully applied to pathology in order to make the specialty safer and less error prone. OBJECTIVES: To review the fundamental conclusions of the Institute of Medicine's report on medical error, to provide a taxonomy of error that can be adapted to pathology, to provide a framework for studying and analyzing error in pathology, to contrast different approaches to error, and to explain the concept of a culture of safety. DESIGN: Review of pertinent literature, analysis of concepts of error reduction and safety used in other disciplines, analysis of pathology workflow, and adaptation of safety practices to the practice of pathology. RESULTS: A taxonomy for error is described and adapted to pathology, a framework for error in the specialty is described, and characteristics of a culture of safety for pathology are proposed. CONCLUSIONS: Fundamental concepts of error reduction and safety improvement exist in other disciplines and can successfully be adapted to pathology.

Identification errors in pathology and laboratory medicine.

Identification errors involve misidentification of a patient or a specimen. Either has the potential to cause patients harm. Identification errors can occur during any part of the test cycle; however, most occur in the preanalytic phase. Patient identification errors in transfusion medicine occur in 0.05% of specimens; for general laboratory specimens the rate is much higher, around 1%. Anatomic pathology, which involves multiple specimen transfers and hand-offs, may have the highest identification error rate. Certain unavoidable cognitive failures lead to identification errors. Technology, ranging from bar-coded specimen labels to radio frequency identification tags, can be incorporated into protective systems that have the potential to detect and correct human error and reduce the frequency with which patients and specimens are misidentified.