Observer variability in histopathological reporting of malignant bronchial biopsy specimens

Abstract

Aims-To evaluate the ability of histopathologists to classify lung carcinomas on bronchial biopsy material using the current World Health Organisation (WHO) classification. Methods-Eleven histopathologists each reviewed 100 randomly selected bronchial biopsy specimens which had originally been reported as showing lung carcinoma. A single haematoxylin and eosin stained section from each case was circulated and a standard proforma completed. These were analysed using K statistics. Results-The histopathologists were excellent at distinguishing between small cell and non-small-cell carcinoma κ = 0.86), but not so good at subclassifying the non-small cell carcinoma group κ = 0.25). Conclusions-The clinically important distinction between small cell and nonsmall cell carcinoma of the lung is reliably made by competent histopathologists even on limited material.