RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Observer variability in the histopathological reporting of abnormal rectal biopsy specimens.
JF Journal of Clinical Pathology
JO J Clin Pathol
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Association of Clinical Pathologists
SP 48
OP 52
DO 10.1136/jcp.47.1.48
VO 47
IS 1
A1 A M Lessells
A1 J S Beck
A1 R A Burnett
A1 S R Howatson
A1 F D Lee
A1 K M McLaren
A1 S M Moss
A1 A J Robertson
A1 J G Simpson
A1 G D Smith
YR 1994
UL http://jcp.bmj.com/content/47/1/48.abstract
AB AIMS--To study the consistency of reporting of abnormal rectal biopsy specimens, especially in the differentiation of inflammatory bowel disease from other causes of abnormality. METHODS--Sixty rectal biopsy specimens were identified from patients presenting with bloody diarrhoea. These were then circulated to the 11 consultant pathologists in the study who filled in a proforma with a list of 12 diagnostic categories and 22 features. RESULTS--Forty one of the 60 cases were examples of inflammatory bowel disease. In 33 of these cases nine or more pathologists had made the diagnosis. Further categorisation into ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease showed better recognition of ulcerative colitis. In the 19 cases of non-inflammatory bowel disease recognition of pseudomembranous colitis and solitary rectal ulcer syndrome was good, but the results were poorer in the case of infective colitis. CONCLUSION--The findings suggest that a group of consultant pathologists can differentiate between inflammatory bowel disease and other causes of an abnormal rectal biopsy specimen and can also recognise pseudomembranous colitis and solitary rectal ulcer syndrome satisfactorily.