# CAP cancer protocols (synoptic pathology reporting templates)

Source: https://onco.cc/terms/cap-cancer-protocols/  
OnCo record `cap-cancer-protocols` (Term). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

The College of American Pathologists' cancer protocols are the checklists American pathologists fill in for each cancer, which is why many pathology reports end in a structured list of findings.

## Summary

The College of American Pathologists publishes cancer protocol templates and biomarker templates for reporting surgical specimens, with electronic versions for laboratory systems and a summary of required elements. The CAP describes them as an educational tool to help pathologists report the relevant information, and authorises their use in reporting specimens for individual patients, teaching and non-profit research. Outside the United States the ICCR datasets play the same role.

## Fields

- Kind: Term
- Last checked: 2026-11-04
- Also known as: CAP cancer protocols; CAP cancer protocol; CAP protocol; CAP synoptic report; College of American Pathologists cancer protocols

## Sources

- College of American Pathologists, cancer protocol templates: https://www.cap.org/protocols-and-guidelines/cancer-reporting-tools/cancer-protocol-templates

## Connected records

- terms: [Bethesda category (thyroid cytology)](https://onco.cc/terms/bethesda-category/), [Clinical text: EHR notes and pathology reports](https://onco.cc/terms/ehr-text-pathology-reports/), [ICCR cancer pathology reporting datasets](https://onco.cc/terms/iccr-datasets/)
- technologies: [Histopathology & immunohistochemistry](https://onco.cc/technologies/histopathology-ihc/)

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