Interobserver variability by pathologists in the distinction between cellular fibroadenomas and phyllodes tumors
Date
2014
Authors
Lawton, T.
Acs, G.
Argani, P.
Farshid, G.
Gilcrease, M.
Goldstein, N.
Koerner, F.
Rowe, J.
Sanders, M.
Shah, S.
Editors
Advisors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type:
Journal article
Citation
International Journal of Surgical Pathology, 2014; 22(8):695-698
Statement of Responsibility
Thomas J. Lawton, Geza Acs, Pedram Argani, Gelareh Farshid, Michael Gilcrease, Neal Goldstein, Frederick Koerner, J. Jordi Rowe, Melinda Sanders, Sejal S. Shah, Carol Reynolds
Conference Name
Abstract
Fibroepithelial lesions with cellular stroma are frequently termed cellular fibroadenomas although criteria for distinguishing them from a phyllodes tumor are vague and subjective. However, the clinical implications and surgical management for these 2 lesions may be different. We randomly selected 21 cases of fibroepithelial lesions sent in consultation to the senior author that were challenging to classify as cellular fibroadenoma or phyllodes tumor. One to 2 representative slides of each case along with patient age were sent to 10 pathologists who specialize in breast pathology. The World Health Organization criteria for phyllodes tumors and a diagnosis form were included with the study set. For the purposes of data reporting, fibroadenoma and cellular fibroadenoma are considered together. In only 2 cases was there uniform agreement as to whether the tumor represented a fibroadenoma or phyllodes tumor. Of the remaining 19 cases, if the diagnoses of fibroadenoma and benign phyllodes tumor were combined and separated from borderline and malignant phyllodes tumors, there was 100% agreement in 53% of cases and 90% agreement in 79% of cases. This study highlights the difficulty that exists in distinguishing some cellular fibroadenomas from phyllodes tumors even for pathologists who specialize in breast pathology. However, there appears to be considerable agreement when cellular fibroadenomas and benign phyllodes tumors are distinguished from borderline and malignant phyllodes tumors. Further studies are needed to determine if there is a clinically significant difference between cellular fibroadenomas and benign phyllodes tumors and how to better distinguish them from borderline and malignant phyllodes tumors.
School/Discipline
Dissertation Note
Provenance
Description
Access Status
Rights
© The Author(s) 2014