Measuring depth of invasion of submucosa - invasive adenocarcinoma in oesophageal endoscopic specimens: how good are we?

AIMS: Emerging data support that submucosa-invasive (pT1b) esophageal adenocarcinomas are cured via endoscopic resection, provided that invasion measures ≤500 µm, they lack other histological features predictive of nodal metastasis and have negative margins. Hence, pathologists' measurement of the depth of submucosal invasion in endoscopic resections may dictate further management (i.e. endoscopic follow-up versus oesophagectomy). In this study, we assessed the interobserver agreement in measuring the depth of submucosal invasion in oesophageal endoscopic resections. METHODS AND RESULTS: Six subspecialised gastrointestinal (GI) pathologists from five academic centres independently measured the depth of submucosal invasion in µm from the deepest muscularis mucosae on 37 oesophageal endoscopic resection slides (round 1 scoring). A consensus meeting with a systematic approach for measuring and discussion of pitfalls was undertaken and remeasuring (round 2 scoring) was conducted. Interobserver agreement was assessed by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Cohen's kappa statistics. A lack of agreement was seen among the six reviewers with a poor ICC for both rounds: 1 [0.40, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.26-0.56] and 2 (0.49, 95% CI = 0.34-0.63). When measurements were categorised as < or >500 µm, the overall agreement among the six reviewers was only fair for both rounds: 1 (kappa = 0.37, 95% CI = 0.22-0.53) and 2 (kappa = 0.29, 95% CI = 0.12-0.46). CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows a lack of agreement among gastrointestinal pathologists in measuring the depth of submucosal invasion in oesophageal endoscopic resections despite formulating a consensus approach for scoring. If important management decisions continue to be based upon this parameter, more reproducible and concrete guidelines are needed.

Fibrocystic Changes of the Breast: Radiologic-Pathologic Correlation of MRI.

Breast MRI provides high sensitivity but modest positive predictive value for identifying breast cancers, with approximately 75% of MRI-guided biopsies returning benign pathologies. Fibrocystic change (FCC) is a descriptive term used colloquially by many radiologists (and falling out of favor with many pathologists) to refer to several benign entities encountered in the breast. Many of the benign entities believed to comprise FCC can show enhancement on MRI. Recognizing the pathologic correlates of these enhancing lesions should help guide management after such a result on MRI-guided biopsy. Premenopausal women may present with clinical symptoms attributed to FCC, including pain, nipple discharge, breast lumps, or discrete masses. Benign entities associated with FCC include proliferative lesions such as usual ductal hyperplasia and sclerosing adenosis, and nonproliferative lesions including cysts, apocrine metaplasia, and stromal fibrosis. Fibrocystic change can be diffuse or focal. Diffuse FCC usually presents as non-mass enhancement (NME), often with persistent kinetics. Focal FCC can present as an irregular mass or focus with variable enhancement patterns including washout kinetics. Following a benign concordant MRI-guided biopsy result of one or more of the above entities, follow-up with MRI in 12 months is reasonable. Accurate radiologic-pathologic correlation can be achieved when careful review of histologic findings is carried out in the context of MRI features.