Abstract

ARTETA CUETO, Ariel A; GIRALDO RESTREPO, Ruben Dario  and  ARIAS RESTREPO, Luis F. Variability among pathologists in the histological diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection: is it a subjetive diagnosis?. Iatreia [online]. 2006, vol.19, n.3, pp.229-235. ISSN 0121-0793.

Histopathologic diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection is not necessarily easy, and reproducibility is not perfect. Our aim was to determine differences in the frequency of Hp infection according to the pathologists interpreting gastric biopsies in Medellín ( Colombia ). MATERIAL AND METHODS: All gastric biopsy reports of eight pathologists during one year were reviewed. We excluded cases with intestinal metaplasia, atrophy, dysplasia or carcinoma. We registered patient age, positivity or negativity for H. pylori, and pathologist. We determined the percentage with H. pylori infection and the percentage of each pathologist in order to determine differences. RESULTS: 2.023 cases were included. Each pathologist evaluated a mean of 252.9 ± 154.9 cases (range: 102-445). Patients were 43.5 ± 15.1 years-old (range: 12-90). H. pylori was diagnosed in 1.034 cases (51.1%). The range of positivity according to the pathologist was 38.8-71.1%; mean 51.1% ± 8.7% (p < 0,001). CONCLUSION: Among pathologists, there is a significant variability in the frequency of diagnosis of H. pylori infection. This result suggests the need to achieve greater homogeneity of concepts and criteria for the diagnosis of this infection, and of its severity.

Keywords : HISTOLOGIC DIAGNOSIS; GASTRITIS; HELICOBACTER PYLORI; METAPLASIA; PATHOLOGIST.

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