Cancer datasets and tissue pathways

The College's Datasets for Histopathological Reporting on Cancers are vital for standardising cancer reporting methods among pathologists. These datasets define the range of acceptable practice in handling pathology specimens, and enhance cancer diagnosis and treatment quality. Cancer datasets encompass structured collections of data related to cancer patients.

Tissue pathways are instrumental in defining best practices when handling pathology specimens from patients who do not have cancer. These guidelines are pivotal in raising the bar for healthcare standards in pathology.

Joint Statement: FIGO 2026 Staging of Gestational Trophoblastic Neoplasia

The Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath), British Gynaecological Cancer Society (BGCS) and British Association of Gynaecological Pathologists (BAGP) support the implementation of the new 2026 FIGO staging system for gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN).

To ensure consistency in clinical practice and, importantly, comparability of national data, audit and research datasets, we recommend a coordinated UK implementation date of:

1 January 2027 – for patients diagnosed on or after this date.

The 2026 FIGO staging system may be used clinically before this date where considered appropriate. However, for national data collection and reporting, cases diagnosed before 1 January 2027 should continue to be recorded using the previous FIGO staging system.

A common implementation date will facilitate a clear transition between staging systems and ensure consistency of UK data.

G073 Tissue pathways for gynaecological pathology

February 2023
An audit on tissue pathways for gynaecological pathology

March 2023
Webinar: Implementation guidance for gynaecological pathology

January 2024

G078 Tissue pathways for endocrine pathology (24 July 2026)
G150 Guidelines for non-operative diagnostic procedures and reporting in breast cancer screening (1 July 2026)
G079 Dataset for histopathological reporting of carcinomas and borderline tumours of the ovaries, fallopian tubes and peritoneum (3 June 2026)
G112 Dataset for the histopathological reporting of nodal excisions and neck dissection (27 May 2026)
G061 Tissue pathways for native medical renal biopsies (27 March 2026)

Webinar programme: Guidance for implementation of new and revised guidelines

The Professional Guidelines team are launching an online learning programme to further support pathologists with the implementation of new and revised clinical guidelines.

Click here for more information and to book a place onto one of the upcoming webinars.