USCAP Gynecologic Pathology: Navigating Histologic Mimics and Other Diagnostic Pitfalls 2021

Course Description
Specimens from gynecologic organs constitute a significant component of most surgical pathology practices, which necessitates that practicing pathologists remain updated on advances in this dynamic, constantly evolving field. The diagnosis of gynecologic tract diseases can be challenging, and fraught with potential pitfalls that may have clinically significant consequences. Classical diagnostic issues in gynecologic pathology have revolved around the potential for non-neoplastic diseases, benign neoplasms, and malignancies to mimic each other, and for different histotypes of malignancies to display morphologic and/or immunophenotypic overlap. Within this context, pathologists must remain updated on newer approaches to disease classification, disease staging, and tumor grading. In this interactive microscopy course, the faculty will present cases wherein one lesion may potentially be mistaken for another due to varying degrees of morphologic and/or immunophenotypic overlap between them, or in which a cancer may be misclassified regarding grade, stage or primary site for a variety of reasons. The diverse case-mix will include those derived from both routine and consultation practices, reflecting the broad spectrum of gynecologic pathology. The presentation of cases will be clinically oriented, with an emphasis on day-to-day practical issues, and on accurately classifying each case within the context of a lesion-specific differential diagnosis.

Target Audience

Practicing academic and community pathologists, and pathologists-in-training

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this educational activity, learners will be able to:
Identify tumor appearances that may result in errors in tumor typing, staging and grading
Evaluate diagnostic criteria and clinical significance of various common and uncommon neoplasms of the gynecologic tract
Recognize the utility and pitfalls associated with the use of immunohistochemistry to resolve some diagnostic issues

Topics/Speakers : 

– Mesenchymal Tumors of The Uterus: Smooth Muscle Tumors – Teri A. Longacre, MD
– Mesenchymal Tumors of the Uterus Other Than Smooth Muscle Tumors – Teri A. Longacre, MD
– Vulvar Pathology 1: Mesenchymal Lesions – Carlos Parra-Herran, MD
– Vulvar Pathology 2: Epithelial Lesions – Carlos Parra-Herran, MD
– Villous Gestational Diseases: Controversies in Diagnosis – Vinita Parkash, MBBS, MPH
– Solid and Non-Villous Gestational Diseases: Diagnostic Issues – Vinita Parkash, MBBS, MPH
– High Grade Endometrial Carcinomas – Oluwole Fadare, MD
– Diagnostic Issues in Low Grade Endometrial Carcinoma and Precursors – Oluwole Fadare, MD
– Carcinoma of the Cervix: Diagnostic Issues – Wenxin Zheng, MD
– varian Tumors: Non-Epithelial – Oluwole Fadare, MD
– varian Tumors: Epithelial – Oluwole Fadare, MD

Original release date: November 22, 2021