Current Practices in the Processing, Diagnosis, and Reporting of Endometrial Carcinoma: Results of a Web-based Survey by the International Society of Gynecological Pathologists (ISGyP)

There have been significant advances in our understanding of the biology and classification of endometrial carcinoma, over the last few years, and the new prediction models proposed for prognostication. To accurately diagnose and stage tumors and apply these prediction models, it is necessary that there be standardized processing of specimens, and a common understanding and usage of the diagnostic terminology of endometrial carcinoma. The International Society of Gynecological Pathologists embarked on an ambitious project to achieve this goal in 2015. An early step in the process was to collect baseline information on existing practices with regard to the processing, diagnosis, and reporting of endometrial carcinomas among the members of the society. This was carried out using a web-based survey comprising 112 questions. The results are presented herein and reveal areas of uniformity but also areas of substantial variation among pathologists. The results of the survey assisted in developing the subsequent recommendations that follow as separate articles in this issue of the journal with regard to processing, diagnosis, and reporting of endometrial carcinomas

The International Society of Gynecological Pathologists (ISGyP) Endometrial Carcinoma Project

Endometrial carcinoma is the commonest gynecological malignancy in developed countries, and the various aspects of the pathology report are critical for patient management. There are many areas of controversy with regard to the handling of resection specimens and the pathologic reporting of endometrial carcinomas. These controversies include those related to sampling, diagnosis, reporting of parameters important for staging, and the undertaking of ancillary studies. These controversies stimulated the International Society of Gynecological Pathologists (ISGyP) endometrial carcinoma project. The project was devised at the ISGyP Board of Directors meeting in March 2015 under the Presidency of Richard Zaino. An organizing committee was selected from the members of the Board of Directors and the education committee of the ISGyP. The organizing committee (comprising the 5 authors of this editorial), as a first step, devised a comprehensive survey, which was emailed to all members of the ISGyP; the survey covered all aspects of endometrial cancer reporting, including specimen dissection and sampling, diagnosis, staging, prognostic factors, and ancillary studies