MUCINOUS TUMORS OF THE OVARY - INTEROBSERVER DIAGNOSTIC VARIABILITY AND UTILITY OF SECTIONING PROTOCOLS

Objectives.-To determine the interobserver variability of the subclass ification of ovarian mucinous tumors and the utility of different sect ioning protocols. Methods.-Six pathologists restrospectively reclassif ied 73 mucinous tumors (30 adenomas, 22 low malignant potential tumors , and 21 carcinomas). Using probabilities, the accuracy of limited sec tioning protocols was compared with that of a one section per centimet er protocol. Results.-The mean kappa statistic was 0.56, indicating on ly good agreement. Although a limited sectioning protocol would result in misdiagnosing cases of stage IA carcinoma as a low malignant poten tial tumor, the overall prognosis of patients with low malignant poten tial tumors would not markedly change. The prognosis of a patient with a low malignant potential tumor using limited sectioning was within t he prognostic range owing to interobserver variability alone.Conclusio ns.-We conclude that extensive sectioning of ovarian mucinous tumors h as limited benefit.