Histopathology findings must be contextual - Courts won’t punish interpretive nuance
Issue -
November - 2025, Posted On: 01 November 2025
A patient underwent laparoscopic surgery for an ovarian mass at a private hospital. The excised tissue was sent for histopathological examination. The report described features consistent with a mucinous cystadenoma—a benign tumour. No signs of stromal invasion were noted, and malignancy was not confirmed.
Months later, the patient experienced complications and was referred to a tertiary hospital. A second histopathology report, based on the same tissue slide, diagnosed mucinous adenocarcinoma and advised ruling out metastasis from the colon. The patient was subsequently treated for cancer and passed away during the pendency of the complaint.