Diagnósticos Críticos en Anatomía Patológica: una contribución a la seguridad clínica del paciente hospitalizado Critical diagnoses in pathology: a contribution to the clinical safety of the hospitalized patient

SUMMARY Critical diagnoses in surgical pathology and cytology have recently been introduced in a similar way to critical values in clinical pathology (laboratory medicine). Thus, some situations require that the clinician be informed urgently of the diagnosis in order to facilitate rapid clinical intervention or treatment and ensure that the patient receives optimal care. Based on day to day experience, this article provides examples of different situations in which critical diagnoses in pathology are necessary.