Alberto Larghi1, Erminia Manfrin2, Carlo Fabbri3, Stefano Francesco Crinò4, Loredana Correale1, Gaia Chiarello5, Luca Barresi6, Marie-Louise Van Velthuysen7, Jan Werner Poley8, Daoud Rahal9, Silvia Carrara10, Frediano Inzani11, Adele Fornelli12. 1. Digestive Endoscopy Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, Rome, Italy. 2. Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, G.B. Rossi University Hospital, Verona, Italy. 3. Digestive Endoscopy and Gastroenterology, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale AUSL della Romagna, Ospedali di Forlì e Cesena, Cesena and Forli, Italy. 4. Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy Unit, The Pancreas Institute, G.B. Rossi University Hospital, Verona, Italy. 5. Pathology Service, Department of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Services, IRCCS-ISMETT, Palermo, Italy. 6. Endoscopy Service, Department of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Services, IRCCS-ISMETT, Palermo, Italy. 7. Pathology Department, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. 8. Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. 9. Pathology Department, Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy. 10. Digestive Endoscopy Unit, Division of Gastroenterology, Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy. 11. Department of Pathology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, Rome, Italy. 12. Pathology Unit, Azienda USL Città di Bologna, Ospedale Maggiore, Bologna, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The recent development of microforceps for EUS through-the-needle biopsy (TTNB) sampling of the wall of pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) allows the collection of histologic specimens never handled and evaluated before by pathologists. We aimed to estimate the interobserver agreement among pathologists in evaluating such samples. METHODS: TTNB specimen slides from 40 PCLs with worrisome features were retrieved and independently evaluated for specimen adequacy, presence of lining epithelium, grade of epithelial dysplasia, presence of ovarian type stroma, and specific diagnosis by 6 expert pathologists from 6 different tertiary care centers. The Gwet's AC1 was used to assess interobserver agreement. RESULTS: An almost perfect agreement was observed for specimen adequacy (AC1, .82; 95% confidence interval [CI], .79-.98), presence of lesional epithelium (AC1, .90; 95% CI, .86-.92), epithelial dysplasia (AC1, .97; 95% CI, .95-.99), and ovarian-like stroma (AC1, .90; 95% CI, .86-.93). When considering all diagnoses separately, a moderate to substantial agreement was observed (AC1, .62; 95% CI, .57-.67), similarly to mucinous cysts versus serous adenoma versus other diagnoses (AC1, .65; 95% CI, .59-.70) and for mucinous cysts versus all other diagnoses (AC1,.74; 95% CI, .68-.84). The agreement for diagnosis of mucinous cystic neoplasm versus intraductal mucinous papillary neoplasm was almost perfect (AC1, .88; 95% CI, .81-.95). CONCLUSIONS: Interobserver agreement between expert pathologists in the evaluation of TTNB samples from PCLs with worrisome features was close to perfection for all evaluated parameters, except definitive diagnosis. When mucinous cystic lesions were compared versus all other diagnoses, the agreement became substantial, thus indicating that TTNB specimens can provide important information for PCL management decisions.
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The recent development of microforceps for EUS through-the-needle biopsy (TTNB) sampling of the wall of pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) allows the collection of histologic specimens never handled and evaluated before by pathologists. We aimed to estimate the interobserver agreement among pathologists in evaluating such samples. METHODS: TTNB specimen slides from 40 PCLs with worrisome features were retrieved and independently evaluated for specimen adequacy, presence of lining epithelium, grade of epithelial dysplasia, presence of ovarian type stroma, and specific diagnosis by 6 expert pathologists from 6 different tertiary care centers. The Gwet's AC1 was used to assess interobserver agreement. RESULTS: An almost perfect agreement was observed for specimen adequacy (AC1, .82; 95% confidence interval [CI], .79-.98), presence of lesional epithelium (AC1, .90; 95% CI, .86-.92), epithelial dysplasia (AC1, .97; 95% CI, .95-.99), and ovarian-like stroma (AC1, .90; 95% CI, .86-.93). When considering all diagnoses separately, a moderate to substantial agreement was observed (AC1, .62; 95% CI, .57-.67), similarly to mucinous cysts versus serous adenoma versus other diagnoses (AC1, .65; 95% CI, .59-.70) and for mucinous cysts versus all other diagnoses (AC1,.74; 95% CI, .68-.84). The agreement for diagnosis of mucinous cystic neoplasm versus intraductal mucinous papillary neoplasm was almost perfect (AC1, .88; 95% CI, .81-.95). CONCLUSIONS: Interobserver agreement between expert pathologists in the evaluation of TTNB samples from PCLs with worrisome features was close to perfection for all evaluated parameters, except definitive diagnosis. When mucinous cystic lesions were compared versus all other diagnoses, the agreement became substantial, thus indicating that TTNB specimens can provide important information for PCL management decisions.
Authors: Bojan Kovacevic; Evangelos Kalaitzakis; Pia Klausen; Lene Brink; Hazem Hassan; John G Karstensen; Peter Vilmann Journal: Endosc Ultrasound Date: 2020 Jul-Aug Impact factor: 5.628
Authors: Bojan Kovacevic; Giulio Antonelli; Pia Klausen; Cesare Hassan; Alberto Larghi; Peter Vilmann; John Gásdal Karstensen Journal: Endosc Ultrasound Date: 2021 Jul-Aug Impact factor: 5.628