title: Reproducibility of histopathologic diagnosis and classification of non-melanocytic skin cancer: a panel exercise in the framework of the multicenter southern European study HELIOS.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The reproducibility of histologic diagnoses, and in particular of the distinction between basal and squamous cell forms, has been evaluated in the framework of a multicenter case-control study (in Italy, France, Spain and Switzerland) aimed to assess the causes of non-melanocytic skin cancers.
  
  
  METHODS
  A panel composed of 10 pathologists from the collaborating centers was appointed. A total of 1,774 slides of routine diagnoses were blindly reviewed by a second panelist; discordant diagnoses underwent a third examination. Controversial and interesting cases were discussed during general sessions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed a high degree of concordance (99.5%), with a Cohen's kappa of 0.85 (95% CI, 0.77-0.94) in the assessment of malignancy of lesions. The concordance in the distinction between large morphologic groups, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma was also high (Cohen's kappa = 0.85; 95% CI, 0.82-0.89). The assessment of histologic subtypes, degree of invasion and differentiation showed a lower degree of concordance, presumably as a consequence of a weaker consistency in the relevant classifications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The reproducibility study has therefore validated the epidemiologic study and in particular allowed to correct some misclassifications that could have lessened the analysis of the case-control study. In general, because of its characteristics (number of pathologists and variety of their origins, the large number of cases examined, blind examination of histologic slides), the conclusions of the study may show a certain degree of generalization, at least with regard to the countries represented. Routine histologic diagnoses of cutaneous carcinoma showed a high degree of reliability with reference to the assessment of malignancy and the distinction between basal and squamous cell carcinoma morphotypes.
authors.affiliation: Service d'Anatomie et Cytologie Pathologiques, Hĵpital Henry Mondor, Créteil, France.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wechsler
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zanetti
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schrameck
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rosso
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pippione
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Linares
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Laurent
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ortuño
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gafà
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Joris
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spatz
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barnéon
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sacerdote
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sancho-Garnier
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*