Error in surgical pathology.

A total of 272 surgical pathology claims reported to The Doctors Company from 1998 through 2003 were reviewed. They were analyzed and repetitive patterns involving both specimen type and category of diagnostic error were identified. These patterns were then compared with those uncovered in a prior review of 218 surgical pathology claims reported from 1995 through 1997 to identify trends and see if new patterns of diagnostic error had emerged.