Interrater and intrarater variabilities in the evaluation of cutaneous lymphoproliferative T-cell infiltrates. EORTC-Cutaneous Lymphoma Project Group.
Histologic and cytologic evaluation of CTCL is one of the most difficult challenges in dermatopathology. It was the purpose of this study to evaluate the reliability and reproducibility of histologic criteria in CTCL and the interrater and intrarater variabilities. An overall of 2375 ratings of sections from 41 patients with CTCL were given by a panel of 22 dermatopathologists and pathologists familiar with lymphoma histology, some of whom were looking repeatedly at the same series of sections. The results clearly indicate that interrater as well as intrarater variabilities are significant and can be decreased by discussion preceding the evaluation as well as by repeated rating indicating a learning effect. Therefore, histologic evaluations of criteria have to be taken with caution, and statistical evaluation of level of agreement expressed by kappa coefficient is always mandatory in this type of study.
Burg
G
G
Department of Dermatology, University Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland.
Zwingers
T
T
Staegemeir
E
E
Santucci
M
M
D006801:Humans; D016410:Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D015588:Observer Variation; D012015:Reference Standards; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology*