Observer Variation in the Assessment of the Histopathologic Diagnosis of Acute Appendicitis

Abstract

Background: The objectives of this study were to determine observer variation in the assessment of the histopathologic diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Methods: Two consultant pathologists independently evaluated 415 appendectomy specimens (set I). After a consensus conference at which the observers unified the criteria of the diagnosis of acute appendicitis, another 396 appendectomy specimens (set II) were evaluated. To calculate the intra-observer variation, one observer evaluated set II once more. Finally, using the consensus diagnosis as the final diagnosis, the diagnostic accuracy of the surgeon, the primary pathology report, and the two observer evaluations was calculated. Results: In set I no difference was found in the level of agreement on the diagnosis of acute appendicitis versus other diagnoses, and a.