Same specimen, different diagnoses: suprahistologic elements in observer variability.
External influences, referred to as suprahistologic elements, may modulate pathologists' interpretation of morphologic findings. These elements can be divided into those that are loosely evidence based and exert a desirable influence on the diagnosis and those that arise from emotional, sometimes irrational perceptions not rooted in objective evidence. The latter, together with individual experience and competence, may lie at the core of the notorious interobserver and intraobserver variability.
*Miraca Research Institute, Miraca Life Sciences, Irving †Departments of Pathology and Medicine, Veterans Affairs North Texas Health Care System ‡The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX.
Robert M
RM
Genta
D000465:Algorithms; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D015588:Observer Variation; D010338:Pathology, Clinical / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results