Vienna Consensus Criteria for Pathological Diagnosis

Abstract

It is generally assumed that the distinction between cancer and noncancer is relatively straightforward and not subject to wide interobserver disagreement. A number of workshops involving the assessment of gastrointestinal lesions by Japanese and Western pathologists have highlighted major discrepancies [1]–[4]. In general, Japanese pathologists have a lower threshold for the diagnosis of malignancy than Western pathologists. In view of the poor levels of diagnostic agreement, international dialogue and collaboration is impeded, and progress in both clinical and basic research suffers accordingly. The Vienna classification (Table 1) was developed in order to remedy this situation [5]. When the proposed terminology is adopted by Japanese and Western pathologists, the reporting differences are reduced but not eliminated.