| Ch 7 | Page 3 / 12 | |
| Cancer surgery |
The surgical operative report | |
The surgical operative report is one of the most important elements of the patient's cancer file.
Its thorough study allows a clear judgement on the quality of the surgical procedure.
The surgical operative report should be written as soon as possible, (at best when the surgeon leaves the operating theatre). It should explicitly describe each and every difficulty encountered and the duration of the operation.
- size of the primitive tumour,
- its precise location,
- its spread to neighbouring structures,
- its adhesion to nearby organs,
- the size and locations of pathological nodes
- acts which were actually realised,
- but also those that were not carried out for technical or other reasons,
- the precise location of clips left on residual tumours,
- a precise description of tumours left after surgery,
- a precise description of the surgical specimens collected in clearly labelled containers,
- specific samples for molecular biology.
- Clear description of this completeness,
- Description of the carcinologic nature of surgery (free limits),
- On the contrary, description of resections taken from the tumour,
- Precise location and description of tumour left after surgery.
- Collection in separated containers of the different surgical specimens,
- Well oriented surgical specimens
- Surgical specimens that have not been fragmented by an immediate, incompetent or even harmful post surgical exploration,
- Surgical specimens immersed in preserving liquid (formalin or other new liquids) if the transportation duration is long.
- Special samples for molecular biology (immediate transmission and preservation)
- Special samples for tissue culture (specific culture media).
Such skilful preparation enables the pathologist to carry out a quality examination and to respond precisely on surgical limits and completeness of the excision, and the biologist to progress with knowledge of each patient’s tumour.
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