Evaluation of the impact of intraobserver variability on endometrial dating and the diagnosis of luteal phase defects

Scott RT, Snyder RR, Bagnall JW, Reed KD, Adair CF, Hensley SD

doi:10.1016/s0015-0282(16)56216-5

Evaluation of the impact of intraobserver variability on endometrial dating and the diagnosis of luteal phase defects

K D Reed, Richard T Scott, C F Adair, J W Bagnall, S D Hensley, R R Snyder

Author affiliations

Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center ROR

Fertility and Sterility, 60(4), 652-657, 1993

DOI 10.1016/s0015-0282(16)56216-5 PMID 8405519

Abstract

Objective

To determine the magnitude of intraobserver variation in dating endometrial biopsies and its impact on clinical management.

Design

Blinded histopathologic interpretation of endometrial biopsy specimens 1 year apart by five pathologists.

Setting

Large military tertiary care center.

Patients

Endometrial biopsy specimens from 51 patients undergoing evaluation for potential luteal phase defects.

Interventions

None.

Main Outcome Measures

Calculation of the magnitude of the individual and overall intraobserver variation in endometrial dating for the five pathologists and estimation of its potential impact on clinical management.

Results

The intraobserver variation was 0.69 +/- 0.05 days (means +/- SE). There was no significant difference in the magnitude of the variation for 1-day or 2-day dating ranges. The theoretical probability of altering clinical management by having the same pathologist redate a given specimen ranged from 15% to 28%.

Conclusion

Histologic dating of endometrial biopsies is subject to a small but highly clinically significant intraobserver variability that may have a major impact on clinical management.

Topics

Diagnostics > Endometrial Biopsy > Dating Reliability Reproductive Endocrinology > Luteal Phase Defect > Diagnostic Challenges Research Methodology > Observer Variability > Histopathologic Assessment

endometrial biopsy dating intraobserver variability luteal phase defect, histologic endometrial dating reliability pathologist variation, luteal phase defect diagnosis endometrial biopsy accuracy, Scott intraobserver variability endometrial dating, endometrial biopsy interpretation variability clinical management impact, blinded pathologist endometrial dating reproducibility study, luteal phase deficiency endometrial histology diagnostic accuracy, endometrial dating discrepancy clinical significance infertility, pathologist agreement endometrial biopsy specimen dating, histopathologic interpretation endometrial biopsy luteal phase

PMID 8405519 8405519 DOI 10.1016/s0015-0282(16)56216-5 10.1016/s0015-0282(16)56216-5

Cite this article

Scott, R. T., Snyder, R. R., Bagnall, J. W., Reed, K. D., Adair, C. F., & Hensley, S. D. (1993). Evaluation of the impact of intraobserver variability on endometrial dating and the diagnosis of luteal phase defects. *Fertility and sterility*, *60*(4), 652-657. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0015-0282(16)56216-5

Keywords

Biopsy, Endometrium/pathology, Female, Humans, Luteal Phase, Observer Variation, Probability, Time Factors, Uterine Diseases/pathology/therapy

Evaluation of the impact of intraobserver variability on endometrial dating and the diagnosis of luteal phase defects

Abstract

Topics

Cite this article

Keywords

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