Every general surgical pathology practice routinely receives gallbladder specimens, yet many pathologists lack sufficient expertise in gallbladder pathology to feel comfortable when confronted with unusual patterns of inflammation such as vasculitis, parasitic infestation and immune-mediated conditions. Gallbladder neoplasms are uncommon and often discovered at the time of histologic examination, provoking angst among surgeons and pathologists who infrequently encounter such cases and may not be aware of updated terminology and staging issues. Widespread use of cross-sectional imaging in the evaluation of patients with abdominal symptoms has led to increased numbers of incidentally discovered pancreaticobiliary lesions. Many of these are initially evaluated with fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) or limited tissue biopsy samples. As a result, pathologists are often faced with cytology, biopsy and resection specimens that feature disorders relatively uncommon to their practices. They may be required to deal with such specimens under pressure, such as in the frozen section laboratory where immunohistochemical stains and other ancillary tools are not available. This course is intended to provide learners with practical information and diagnostic pearls that may aid them in their day-to-day practices. Intimate mentoring with experts at 18-head teaching microscopes reinforces learning and practice improvements.

Course Location: Palm Springs, CA
Course Director: Rhonda K. Yantiss, MD

Gastrointestinal pathology emerged as a subspecialty in the early 1980s, roughly coincident with development of endoscopy and mucosal biopsy for diagnosis and management of patients with gastrointestinal disorders. At that time, a number of pathologists dedicated their efforts to recognizing and classifying patterns of disease based on careful morphologic assessment, unassisted by immunohistochemical and molecular techniques. Many of their observations and conclusions have held true for several decades underscoring their validity. These individuals have tremendous knowledge to share with learners at all stages in their careers, many of whom have come to rely heavily on ancillary tests to establish diagnoses rather than morphologic assessment. Pathologists must be able to hone-in on key features in order to narrow the differential diagnosis and facilitate patient management. This special Emeritus course concentrates on the pioneers in gastrointestinal pathology and their prophetic perspectives.

Course Location: Palm Springs, CA
Course Director: Jason L. Hornick, MD, PhD

Course Location: Palm Springs, CA
Course Director: Carlos Parra-Herran, MD