Abstract

In this study, 72 cases of cystic disease of the breast, containing areas of ductal epithelial proliferative lesion were evaluated by 4 pathologists according to the criteria which were set by Page and modified by Tavassoli. There was complete agreement among 4 pathologist on the diagnosis of 35 (48.5 percent) cases, consisting of diagnoses of epithelial hyperplasia (65.7%), atypical ductal hyperplasia (28.5%) and ductal carcinoma insitu (56.9%). The reported complete agreement rate of these studies investigating the reproducubility of the histologic criteria for diagnosing of ductal epithelial proliferative lesions of the breast have been found to be ranging from zero to 58 percent. This study confirms that the diagnostic differences among pathologists could be reduced by providing agreement on the criteria.