Agreement Among Surgical Pathologists Evaluating Routine Histologic Sections of Digits Amputated from Cats and Dogs

Abstract

Abstract. Agreement among pathologists interpreting histologic specimens is an area of interest within human pathology, but little work in this area has been reported in the veterinary literature. Agreement among pathologists evaluating routine histologic sections of amputated digits from cats and dogs submitted to multiple diagnostic centers was examined. Histologic sections from surgical specimens were reviewed in a blinded fashion by two pathologists, and a comparison to the original diagnosis, as stated in the diagnostic report, was recorded. A total of 513 cases were reviewed, and complete agreement was reached in 409 (79.7%). Of the 104 instances of disagreement, 77 (74.0%) were considered to be of clinical significance. The diagnosis of keratoacanthoma was disagreed with in 19 of 21 diagnoses (90.4%). No other individual diagnosis was similarly disputed. The overall level of disagreement is large and is similar to that reported in human pathology and suggests that further study of this issue would be useful in veterinary pathology.

Comparison of first-opinion and second-opinion histopathology from dogs and cats with cancer: 430 cases (2001-2008)

“…Most human studies, and one veterinary study, of second‐opinion pathology are limited to cases from specific organs or neoplastic processes suspected to be more prone to diagnostic discrepancies 7–12 . Fewer studies, such as that reported herein, have a global range of specimens, more reflective of a general surgical pathology practice 3,4,13 .…”

A Copy Number Variant at the KITLG Locus Likely Confers Risk for Canine Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Digit

“…It is the most common malignant nail bed tumor, comprising 44.4% of reported cases [19], [20], [21], [22]. SCCD is a locally aggressive cancer that causes bone lysis in approximately 80% of cases [19], [20], [21].…”

“…SCCD is a locally aggressive cancer that causes bone lysis in approximately 80% of cases [19], [20], [21]. Tumors can develop in multiple digits, typically in breeds at the highest genetic risk [17], [21], [22], [23]. The disease is considerably more aggressive than other cutaneous SCCs, with 19.2% of reported cases progressing to metastatic disease [19], [20], [21], [22], [24].…”

“…One of the most interesting aspects of SCCD is its profoundly strong association with dark coat colors in a subset of breeds [19], [20], [21], [22]. The most striking example is that of the very popular STPO where black dogs are at high risk for SCCD, but light colored dogs, including white and cream are, to our knowledge, unaffected.…”

Disease diagnostic coding to facilitate evidence-based medicine: current and future perspectives

“…4 Accordingly, as we continue to refine our coding system, we are confident in the accuracy of aggregated disease diagnosis information, particularly at the body system, insult, and etiology levels. For many studies examining agreement of coding or pathology grading systems, cases are narrowed to a disease entity (pathogen or neoplasia type), 3,6,8 a system or body area (e.g., amputated digits or liver), 5,10 and typically species (all-human reviews). Additional evaluation of our coding system, utilizing some of these limits (species, pathogen, system), will help to refine the system further or identify areas for additional training and discussion to reach better agreement among pathologists.…”