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.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 652-657 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Fertility and Sterility |
| Volume | 60 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1993 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Luteal phase defect
- endometrium
- histology
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Reproductive Medicine
- Obstetrics and Gynecology