Accurate and complete gross descriptions are especially important for the following reasons:
- Diagnosis. Gross descriptions provide important diagnostic information that is used for staging and prognosis.
- Correlation. Good gross descriptions allow the pathologist to correlate microscopic findings with the gross findings and imaging.
- Documentation. Each specimen and the condition in which it arrived must be carefully documented for medical and legal purposes.
- Training. Accurate gross descriptions reveal the strengths and limitations of the gross examination as compared to the microscopic examination. For some specimens (e.g., colon carcinoma), almost the entire diagnosis can be made grossly. Also, the standardized templates for the gross dictations that include the required elements for the gross examination can serve as a navigation tool for a trainee.
