The Silva pattern-based classification for HPV-associated endocervical adenocarcinoma: A single institution concordance study of trainees and gynecologic pathologists

The Silva pattern-based classification of HPV-associated endocervical adenocarcinoma has become an integral part of the histologic assessment of these tumors. Unfortunately, the Silva system reproducibility has had mixed results in past studies, and clinical practice still favors the FIGO stage assessment in directing therapeutic interventions for patients. In our study, we aimed to assess our institution's concordance including not only gynecologic pathologists, but also pathology trainees through a series of 69 cases. The grouped total kappa concordance from all participants was 0.439 (Moderate), with an overall trainee kappa of 0.417 (moderate) and an overall pathologist kappa of 0.460 (moderate). Perfect concordance among all 10 study participants was seen in 8/69 cases (11.6 %), corresponding to 5/22 Pattern A cases (22.7 %), 0/16 Pattern B cases (0 %), and 3/31 Pattern C cases (9.7 %), with similar findings between trainees and pathologists when compared within their own cohorts. Recurrence was identified in 2 Pattern A cases, indicating a potential issue with limited excisional specimens which may not fully appreciate the true biologic aggressiveness of the lesions.