TY - JOUR
T1 - Reproducibility in the diagnosis of needle core biopsies of non-palpable breast lesions
T2 - An international study using virtual slides published on the world-wide web
AU - Zito, Francesco Alfredo
AU - Verderio, Paolo
AU - Simone, Giovanni
AU - Angione, Vito
AU - Apicella, Paola
AU - Bianchi, Simonetta
AU - Conde, Antonio Felix
AU - Hameed, Omar
AU - Ibarra, Julio
AU - Leong, Antony
AU - Pennelli, Natale
AU - Pezzica, Ezio
AU - Vezzosi, Vania
AU - Ventrella, Vincenzo
AU - Pizzamiglio, Sara
AU - Paradiso, Angelo
AU - Ellis, Ian
PY - 2010
Y1 - 2010
N2 - Aims: To conduct an internet-based study using virtual slides (VS) of sterotactic core biopsy specimens of non-palpable breast lesions in order to evaluate interobserver reproducibility between pathologists. Methods and results: A total of 18 breast lesions, determined to be histologically complex by two pathologists, were selected. Digitized VSs were then created using QuickTime Virtual Reality technology (Apple, Cupertino, CA, USA) and posted on the world-wide web. In all, 10 pathologists completed the evaluations of 18 VSs using the five diagnostic categories (B1-B5) from the European guidelines for quality assurance in breast cancer screening and diagnosis. Their results were compared with those of every other participating pathologist, and were then individually compared with the results of a highly experienced breast pathologist (referee). Of the 18 cases, 10 (56%) were classified by the referee as borderline (B3 and B4). Comparisons with reference values showed a less than satisfactory level of reproducibility (median κw = 0.60). As regards interobserver reproducibility, results showed that, in general, the level of agreement was not satisfactory (median κw = 0.53). Conclusions: Overall, the findings are comparable to those quality control studies using circulating slides when analysis is done on borderline cases.
AB - Aims: To conduct an internet-based study using virtual slides (VS) of sterotactic core biopsy specimens of non-palpable breast lesions in order to evaluate interobserver reproducibility between pathologists. Methods and results: A total of 18 breast lesions, determined to be histologically complex by two pathologists, were selected. Digitized VSs were then created using QuickTime Virtual Reality technology (Apple, Cupertino, CA, USA) and posted on the world-wide web. In all, 10 pathologists completed the evaluations of 18 VSs using the five diagnostic categories (B1-B5) from the European guidelines for quality assurance in breast cancer screening and diagnosis. Their results were compared with those of every other participating pathologist, and were then individually compared with the results of a highly experienced breast pathologist (referee). Of the 18 cases, 10 (56%) were classified by the referee as borderline (B3 and B4). Comparisons with reference values showed a less than satisfactory level of reproducibility (median κw = 0.60). As regards interobserver reproducibility, results showed that, in general, the level of agreement was not satisfactory (median κw = 0.53). Conclusions: Overall, the findings are comparable to those quality control studies using circulating slides when analysis is done on borderline cases.
KW - Atypical ductal hyperplasia
KW - Core breast biopsy
KW - Quality control
KW - Telepathology
KW - Virtual slide
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77951715054&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=77951715054&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/j.1365-2559.2010.03548.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1365-2559.2010.03548.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 20546337
AN - SCOPUS:77951715054
VL - 56
SP - 720
EP - 726
JO - Histopathology
JF - Histopathology
SN - 0309-0167
IS - 6
ER -