The diagnosis of ovarian cancer by pathologists: how often do diagnoses by contributing pathologists agree with a panel of gynecologic pathologists?
The Cancer and Steroid Hormone Study, a multicenter, population-based, case-control study of ovarian, breast, and endometrial cancer in women 20 to 54 years of age, permitted the diagnoses of contributing pathologists to be compared with those of a panel of three gynecologic pathologists. A diagnosis of ovarian cancer was made by contributing pathologists on 477 subjects. Agreement between the two groups of pathologists was 97% for primary epithelial ovarian cancer and 89% for primary nonepithelial ovarian malignancies. Agreement on diagnosis of major cellular subtypes of ovarian malignancy ranged between 73% for endometrioid cancer and 100% for clear cell carcinomas. We conclude that the diagnosis of pathologic features of primary ovarian cancer is highly predictable. Nonetheless, diagnosis by histologic type varies sufficiently that a review process should be considered for clinical or investigative decisions involving specific histologic diagnoses of ovarian cancer.
Tyler
C W
CW
Office of the Director, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, GA 30333.
Lee
N C
NC
Robboy
S J
SJ
Kurman
R J
RJ
Paris
A L
AL
Wingo
P A
PA
Williamson
G D
GD
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D015588:Observer Variation; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D010336:Pathology / Q000379:methods*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests