title: Interobserver agreement in salivary gland neoplasms by telepathology: An analysis of 47 cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the discrepancies that prevailed among the members of the Head and Neck Pathology Working Group in Turkey in diagnosing salivary gland tumors, classified primarily according to myoepithelial origin, by utilizing telepathology.
  
  
  METHODS
  At least 4 representative images were obtained from each case of a total of 47 salivary gland tumors, and these were studied by 14 participants. The tumors examined were classified into 2 categories under behavior as malignant or benign, and also grouped into 2 categories under differentiation: those showing and those not showing myoepithelial differentiation. Representative areas from hematoxylin and eosin-stained slides were imaged by experienced pathologists. Images from the cases were recorded and distributed via compact disc.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The participants in this study had a mean of 12.8 years' experience in pathology. The agreement ratios on tumors showing myoepithelial differentiation and malignancy were 86% and 81%, respectively. Basal cell adenocarcinoma gathered the lowest agreement of the myoepithelial differentiation among the tumors by 64%. The highest agreement (100%) was for 17 myoepitheliomas. While adenoid cystic carcinoma attained the highest ratio (95%), myoepithelial carcinoma had the lowest ratio (47%) of agreement on malignancy among the 19 observers. Accordingly, regarding benign tumors the ratio of agreement on the benignancy was 70%, with the highest percentage being 91% for basal cell adenoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Electronic media acting as a usable technological tool for the distribution of pathology expertise may be used to obtain a second opinion about salivary gland tumors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Izmir Ataturk Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey. demetetit@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Demet
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Etit
authors.forename: Ayca
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Kemal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bakir
authors.forename: Fulya
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cakalagaoglu
authors.forename: Sahende
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Elagoz
authors.forename: Gulsum Ozlem
authors.initials: GO
authors.lastname: Elpek
authors.forename: Ozge
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Unsal
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Sema
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hucumenoglu
authors.forename: Fulya
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Koybasioglu
authors.forename: Ulku
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kucuk
authors.forename: Sezer
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kulacoglu
authors.forename: Irem
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Paker
authors.forename: Sulen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sarioglu
authors.forename: Selda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Seckin
authors.forename: Merva Soluk
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Tekkesin
authors.forename: Aysun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Uguz
authors.forename: Tuba
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Unal
authors.forename: Omer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gunhan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003528:Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic / Q000473:pathology*; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009208:Myoepithelioma / Q000473:pathology*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D015588:Observer Variation; D010338:Pathology, Clinical / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D019113:Telepathology / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014421:Turkey