Lymphovascular invasion in colorectal cancer: an interobserver variability study. | Cooperative Human Tissue Network Western Division

Harris EI, Lewin DN, Wang HL, Lauwers GY, Srivastava A, Shyr Y, Shakhtour B, Revetta F, Washington MK. Lymphovascular invasion in colorectal cancer: an interobserver variability study. The American journal of surgical pathology. 2008 Dec;32(32). 1816-21. PMID: 18779725 [PubMed] PMCID: PMC2605104 NIHMSID: NIHMS80968.

Abstract

Lymphovascular invasion (LVI) in colorectal cancer (CRC) is considered a strong stage-independent prognostic factor and influences decisions regarding adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with stage II tumors. However, the degree of interobserver agreement among pathologists for LVI in CRC is largely unknown. This study was undertaken to examine such interobserver variability, and we hypothesized that the use of immunohistochemical markers for vascular and lymphatic channels could improve interobserver agreement.