Reproducibility of a histopathologic grading system for XXXX .

@entity5 @entity1 @entity242 @entity39
@entity5 grade has been proposed as an essential factor in the staging of @entity1 with soft tissue @entity242 . In a previous study, a histopathologic grading system using the evaluation of @entity5 differentiation, mitosis count, and @entity5 @entity39 was described. The current study was conducted to test its reproducibility. The pathologic sections of 25 soft tissue @entity242 were submitted to a study group composed of 15 pathologists who had not been involved in the development of the grading system. The results were compared with those of a panel group. The crude proportion in agreement observed between the study group and the panel group was 81% for the evaluation of @entity5 @entity39 , 74% for @entity5 differentiation, and 73% for the mitosis count. The crude proportion in agreement for the @entity5 grade was 75%, which was significantly better than the crude agreement rate of 61% for the diagnosis of histologic type (P = 0.001). A kappa statistical analysis, to check the possibility of chance-related concordance, showed a proportion in agreement of 68%. A two-way variance analysis showed that the homogeneity of the evaluation of @entity5 grade is impaired by @entity5 -related and observer-related factors. However, an improvement may be obtained by better training of pathologists. We conclude that the @entity5 grading system developed inside the French Federation of Cancer Centers, although perfectible, already provides reliable prognostic information and its use in prospective clinical studies may provide more information about its clinical usefulness.
