Scottish Pathology Network (SPAN)

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Pathology Scotland Statistics

The following figures were obtained by questionnaire issued and completed by the participant labs across the pathology network in Scotland.. The figures were extracted and then verified with the clinical leads for pathology in each Health Board region.

A request is defined as a surgical biopsy or biopsies sampled from an individual patient during one surgical episode received in the pathology department for investigation.

Specimens are defined as above but separate out the individual biopsies e.g. where 2 distinct areas are individually sampled and placed in separate specimen containers would be defined as 1 request but 2 specimens.

Blocks are defined as the number of paraffin wax embedded blocks sampled from each biopsy/resection taken at surgery. For example a breast resection to ascertain diagnosis, predictive outcome and treatment is likely to have many paraffin wax blocks taken and an individual endoscopy sample is likely to have 1 paraffin wax block. From these paraffin wax blocks the slides are created which are then examined microscopically. Virtually every biopsy submitted to a department will have one haematoxylin and eosin stained microscope slide prepared and subsequently other preparations including special stains and immunocytochemistry to allow visualisation, detection and grading of disease including malignancy.

The figures below show a significant increase across Scotland in requests with an increase in requesting by 13% between 1999 and 2008. Aassociated with this is a significant increase in the number of blocks sampled with an increase of 22% over the same period reflecting both increased requesting and increasing case complexity and sampling to meet national guidelines and standards.

Derek Bishop
Pathology Network Manager
December 2008

Pathology Scotland Statistics 2007/08

Pathology Scotland Statistics 2006/07

Pathology Scotland Statistics 2005/06