[Observer variability in the histopathologic grading of prostatic carcinoma].

To evaluate the feasibility of histopathological grading systems for prostatic carcinoma, interobserver variability was studied. Fifty patients with prostatic carcinoma were independently observed by five experienced pathologists according to each grading system (Gleason, Mayo Clinic, Mostofi, Gaeta, M.D. Anderson Hospital and Japanese Uro-Pathological Committee). Consensus reading was made in each case, and subsequently a mean discrepancy score was calculated in each grading system. Among the six systems, the lowest discrepancy score was obtained by the Japanese Uro-Pathological Committee's. It seems that this system is the most suitable for the histopathological grading of prostatic carcinoma.