biopsy second opinion

Great question @Hoyle28180

There may be a couple of options for your pathology to be reviewed again. While it is not routine to have biopsy specimens reviewed, it is sometimes done if the initial results are not consistent with imaging findings, if the results are considerable borderline or focal, if there are atypical or unusual features or if a grading changes during a period of surveillance.

The first option is for the urologist to have the case presented at a local multidisciplinary team meeting (MDT or MDM) -where a pathologist, radiologist, urologists, radiation oncologist, medical oncologist and other involved in the treating team gather to discuss cases. They usually review biopsy specimens, MRI and or PSMA imaging, urological and patient history. Sometimes the pathologist reviewing the cases at the meeting is different from the original pathologist and will provide an overview to the group and highlight and changes if they were different from the original report. You can ask your urologist to have your case reviewed at an MDT or MDM meeting. They would usually present back to you the review of the meeting findings.

A second less common option usually involves a request from a urologist to have the specimen reviewed by another pathologist, either within the same pathology provider or another of their preference. This usually happens at the suggestion of the patient, but is sometimes initiated by the urologist if they have questions about the original report. The urologist would usually contact both the original provider and another provider to request a second opinion and send through the request if a transfer of specimens between labs is required.

Usually a urologist knows how each of these second opinions works at their local laboratories and should be able to arrange for this to happen with your consent.

There may be a few for this second opinion and you should be informed of this.