Juneko E Grilley-Olson,
D Neil Hayes,
Dominic T Moore,
Kevin O Leslie,
Matthew D Wilkerson,
Bahjat F Qaqish,
Michele C Hayward,
Christopher R Cabanski,
Xiaoying Yin,
Mark A Socinski, [......],
Georgean G Deblois, Göran Elmberger,
Paolo Graziano,
Craig F Hart,
Kirk D Jones,
Diane M Maia,
C Ryan Miller,
Keith V Nance,
William D Travis,
William K Funkhouser
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ABSTRACT: Context.-Precise subtype diagnosis of non-small cell lung carcinoma is increasingly relevant, based on the availability of subtype-specific therapies, such as bevacizumab and pemetrexed, and based on the subtype-specific prealence of activating epidermal growth factor receptor mutations. Objectives.-To establish a baseline measure of interobserver reproducibility for non-small cell lung carcinoma diagnoses with hematoxylin-eosin for the current 2004 World Health Organization classification, to estimate interobserver reproducibility for the therapeutically relevant squamous/nonsquamous subsets, and to examine characteristics that improve interobserver reproducibility. Design.-Primary, resected lung cancer specimens were converted to digital (virtual) slides. Based on a single hematoxylin-eosin virtual slide, pathologists were asked to assign a diagnosis using the 2004 World Health Organization classification. Kappa statistics were calculated for each pathologist-pair for each slide and were summarized by classification scheme, pulmonary pathology expertise, diagnostic confidence, and neoplastic grade. Results.-The 12 pulmonary pathology experts and the 12 community pathologists each independently diagnosed 48 to 96 single hematoxylin-eosin digital slides derived from 96 cases of non-small cell lung carcinoma resection. Overall agreement improved with simplification from the comprehensive 44 World Health Organization diagnoses (κ = 0.25) to their 10 major header subtypes (κ = 0.48) and improved again with simplification into the therapeutically relevant squamous/nonsquamous dichotomy (κ = 0.55). Multivariate analysis showed that higher diagnostic agreement was associated with better differentiation, better slide quality, higher diagnostic confidence, similar years of pathology experience, and pulmonary pathology expertise. Conclusions.-These data define the baseline diagnostic agreement for hematoxylin-eosin diagnosis of non-small cell lung carcinoma, allowing future studies to test for improved diagnostic agreement with reflex ancillary tests.
Archives of pathology & laboratory medicine 05/2012; · 2.58 Impact Factor
