The quality management in anatomical pathology becomes now a major concern of pathologists in Japan. The basic research has been the main subject of academic society of pathology, and the correct diagnosis of difficult and rare cases has been the main subject of many surgical pathologists. But, the new trend toward systematic approach of quality management appears gradually and is growing steadily in all fields of pathology. Social needs for the accountability in Japanese health care system promote this trend.
In this meeting, four presentations on the Japanese state of art in quality management in main fields of anatomical pathology(i.e. cytology, surgical pathology, fresh frozen diagnosis and autopsy) were published, and participants discussed on the methods of continuous improvement of quality.


*Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Defense Medical College, Tokorozawa 359-8513