• epithelial neoplasia
• Vienna classification

We read with interest the viewpoint “Gastrointestinal epithelial neoplasia: Vienna revisited” by Dixon (

).

For many years Western gastrointestinal pathologists have followed the recommendations of British gastrointestinal pathologists. We learned that terms such as carcinoma in situ should be banned from the diagnostic terminology as it could lead to misinterpretation by surgeons and to unnecessary surgical intervention.

The Vienna classification¹ has introduced new avenues to the understanding of the process of carcinogenesis in the gastrointestinal tract. For some Western pathologists in the Vienna group who also received histopathological training in Japan, the concept of intraepithelial carcinoma (that is, carcinoma in situ) and of intramucosal carcinoma appeared natural. Although during the first day of discussions other Western pathologists appeared reluctant to accept such controversial notions, the discussion became …