title: The diagnosis of ovarian cancer by pathologists: how often do diagnoses by contributing pathologists agree with a panel of gynecologic pathologists?
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Office of the Director, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, GA 30333.
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Tyler
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Robboy
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Kurman
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Paris
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Wingo
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Williamson
mesh_terms: 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