A Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions’ research in 1999 showed that, of 6171 cases reviewed, second opinion surgical pathology resulted in 86 changed diagnoses (1.4%). The research concluded that second opinion surgical pathology can result in major therapeutic and prognostic modifications for patients sent to large referral hospitals. Although the overall percentage of affected cases is not large, the discrepant diagnosis may have an enormous human and financial impact.
1. What is a second opinion in anatomic pathology?
A second opinion is when a client is consulted by doctors in a different hospital/medical facility than the treating doctors about the progress of the treatment, selection of a treatment method for the next stage. The patients then can choose a treatment method that they feel most comfortable with and believe in.
Obtaining a second opinion in pathology is useful for confirming and/or providing additional information regarding a primary histological diagnosis.
2. Advantage of obtaining a second opinion
A Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions’ research in 1999 showed that, of 6171 cases reviewed, second opinion surgical pathology resulted in 86 changed diagnoses (1.4%). The research concluded that second opinion surgical pathology can result in major therapeutic and prognostic modifications for patients sent to large referral hospitals. Although the overall percentage of affected cases is not large, the discrepant diagnosis may have an enormous human and financial impact.
Many other researches also indicate the advantage of second opinion, especially in pathology.
Accordingly, it is recommended that review of the original histologic material should be undertaken prior to the institution of a major therapeutic endeavor.
3. Why should client obtain a second opinion in Vinmec?
Previously, patients who wanted to get a second opinion from medical institutions in developed countries such as USA, South Korea, Singapore, etc. all had to take effort to contact, pack the slides material, request a statement of non-infectious origin for shipping, then spend a long time waiting for shipment and interpretation. It often takes the patients an average of 7-14 days to get the results and costs a huge amount.
Along with the development of science and technology, digital pathology opens a new era in the field of medical diagnostics, allowing customers to have access to modern diagnostic technology of the developed countries quickly, effectively, and saving time and costs.
Vinmec Hospital uses the 3DHistech Pannoramic® SCAN II, one of the top 3 manufacturers of digital imaging equipment in the world, the system can scan slides with equivalent or even better image quality than when viewing directly through a microscope. Vinmec also has a high-quality internet connection system and an absolutely secure customer information security system. Therefore, pathologists at the partner medical facilities can view the slide images and give the diagnosis results in a short period of time without transportation costs, helping to shorten the customers’ waiting process.
4. Vinmec partner in second opinion, who are they?
Seegene Medical Foundation (SMF) is a non-profit medical organization specializing in diagnostic testing with more than 4,000 items of tests, and is one of the largest health care systems in Korea. SMF’s Pathology Center, one of the four major Seegene centers, is accredited by CAP (College of American Pathologists). The pathological specialists from this Center are professors and pathologists from top Korean universities such as Seoul National University, Yonsei University, ... with many years of experience, prestige and worldwide recognized.
5. Related information
If the customer requests a second opinion service on pathology, please contact the treating clinician for consultation and service requisition.
If the customer only needs to use the service without consulting Vinmec clinicians, please provide Laboratory Department with slides and blocks for use in need of more slides cutting.
