title: Histopathologic diagnosis of chronic graft-versus-host disease: National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Project on Criteria for Clinical Trials in Chronic Graft-versus-Host Disease: II. Pathology Working Group Report.
abstract: This consensus document provides an update for pathologists and clinicians about the interpretation of biopsy results and use of this information in the management of hematopoietic cell transplantation patients. Optimal sampling and tissue preparation are discussed. Minimal criteria for the diagnosis of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) are proposed, together with specific requirements for the diagnosis of chronic GVHD. Four final diagnostic categories (no GVHD, possible GVHD, consistent with GVHD, and definite GVHD) reflect the integration of histopathology with clinical, laboratory, and radiographic information. Finally, the Working Group developed a set of worksheets to facilitate communication of clinical information to the interpreting pathologist and to aid in clinicopathologic correlation studies. Forms are available at . The recommendations of the Working Group represent a consensus opinion supplemented by evaluation of available peer-reviewed literature. Consensus recommendations and suggested data-capture forms should be validated in prospective clinicopathologic studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA. hshulman@seattlecca.org
authors.forename: Howard M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Shulman
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kleiner
authors.forename: Stephanie J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Morton
authors.forename: Steven Z
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Pavletic
authors.forename: Evan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Farmer
authors.forename: J Margaret
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Moresi
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Greenson
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Janin
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: McDonald
authors.forename: Mary E D
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Flowers
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Atkinson
authors.forename: Jay
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lefkowitch
authors.forename: M Kay
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Washington
authors.forename: Victor G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Prieto
authors.forename: Stella K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Zsolt
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Argenyi
authors.forename: A Hafeez
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Diwan
authors.forename: Asif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rashid
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hiatt
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Couriel
authors.forename: Kirk
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schultz
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hymes
authors.forename: Georgia B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Vogelsang
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D019468:Disease Management; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D009316:National Institutes of Health (U.S.); D010336:Pathology / Q000592:standards; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D014481:United States