A. Srivastava et al., OBSERVER VARIATION IN AGNOR COUNTS IN NEOPLASTIC BREAST-LESIONS, Analytical and quantitative cytology and histology, 18(3), 1996, pp. 241-244
OBJECTIVE: To determine interobserver and intraobserver variability of
AgNOR quantitation in neoplastic lesions of the breast. STUDY DESIGN:
Forty-Jive cases, 20 benign and 25 malignant lesions, were included i
n the study. Counts were performed on one slide from each case within
a pre-marked area of about 1 cm(2) in a standardized manner by two obs
ervers blind to the histopathologic diagnosis and independent of each
other and repeated after two weeks. Interobserver and intraobserver ag
reement was assessed using the Bland-Altman method. RESULTS: Our resul
ts showed small mean interobserver and intraobserver differences but w
ide limits of agreement. CONCLUSION: Observer variation in AgNOR count
s is too high for the method to be of any diagnostic or prognostic rel
evance.