1000-17 Challenging Diagnoses in Breast Pathology: What To Do When Your Case is Not The Classic Textbook Example

Wednesday, September 06, 2017, 08:00 AM – 09:15 AM and 01:00 PM – 02:30 PM

Breast pathology accounts for a significant proportion of the cases seen by practicing pathologists. Several well-illustrated breast pathology textbooks serve as valuable resources for diagnosing challenging cases. But, some areas of breast pathology, especially in limited and/or fragmented core biopsies, may be difficult to diagnose by matching the histologic appearance on the slide to “textbook” examples. The entire histologic continuum may not be shown and cases near the borders of diagnostic categories are not selected for illustration. Frequently encountered histologic entities posing these challenges include columnar cell lesions and flat epithelial atypia (FEA), spindle cell lesions, papillary lesions, fibroepithelial lesions, vascular lesions and metastases that may mimic primary breast carcinoma. This course will provide a practical approach to the evaluation of these challenging lesions by relying on distinguishing histologic features, the appropriate use of immunohistochemistry, and refining the differential diagnosis with clinical and radiologic correlation. Advances in the molecular classification of these lesions will be highlighted when relevant and clinical management will be discussed to prepare pathologists for the essential role they play in multidisciplinary breast care.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the spectrum of benign, atypical/borderline, and malignant diagnoses in problematic breast lesions.
• Identify the distinguishing histologic features for benign, atypical/borderline, and malignant diagnoses, use immunohistochemistry appropriately, and incorporate relevant clinical and radiologic data to refine the differential diagnosis.
• Understand the clinical implications and recent molecular advances where relevant to different challenging lesions commonly encountered in breast biopsies.

5000-17 CAP/ASH Initial Work-up of Acute Leukemia Guideline

Wednesday, September 06, 2017, 08:00 AM – 09:15 AM

There is variation in how acute leukemias are worked up across the country leading to variable practice and variable cost and time to diagnosis. The Initial Work-up of Acute Leukemia guideline developed by the Pathology and Laboratory Quality Center of the College of American Pathologists (CAP) and the American Society of Hematology (ASH) provides recommended testing for the initial work-up for proper diagnosis, determination of prognostic factors and for possible future monitoring of acute leukemias, including AML, ALL and mixed phenotype acute leukemia in children and adults.

Learning Objectives:

• Determine proper sample collection at the time of diagnosis
• Identify key decision points at which to order appropriate tests
• Apply CAP/ASH recommendations for test selection

Industry Workshop – Intraductal Carcinoma of the Prostate: Update on Diagnosis and Clinical Significance

Thursday, September 07, 2017, 1:30 PM – 02:00 PM  |  Grand C North Ballroom 

This session will provide an in depth discussion of intraductal carcinoma of the prostate. Current diagnostic criteria and differential diagnostic distinctions (e.g. high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia, ductal adenocarcinoma, and central zone glands) will be emphasized. The clinical significance of this diagnosis and emerging thoughts on therapy will also be covered.

At the end of this session, participants should be able to confidently diagnosis intraductal lesions of the prostate and effectively discuss the clinical implications with their Urology colleagues.

APF8-17 Conflict Resolution for Pathologists and Laboratory Professionals-APF

Thursday, September 07, 2017, 04:40 PM – 06:10 PM

Conflict Happens.
But how you handle it can be more important to your career and your laboratory than being right or wrong. This interactive session will explore the various types of conflict that occur, and focus on those types that most commonly occur in the pathology laboratory. Participants will complete a conflict mode instrument to assess their own most common response to conflict. We will then introduce a diagnostic approach to conflict to help participants identify what type of conflict they are encountering, and therefore be most able to handle it. Finally, we will discuss tips and skills to help participants defuse and resolve conflict in the future.

Learning Objectives:

• Define the general types of conflict.
• Discuss a diagnostic approach to conflict resolution.
• Practice skills to help resolve conflict within the laboratory and in professional settings.

3006-17 GYN Cytology – Squamous cell Abnormalities: Recognition, Differential Interpretations, Management, Histopathologic Correlation, and HPV Testing

Friday, September 08, 2017, 09:40 AM – 11:10 AM

High-risk types of human papillomavirus can be identified in nearly all cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions. This presentation will discuss recent Pap test guidelines and the role of HPV testing in both screening and management. The stepwise progression from The Bethesda System (TBS), ALTS trial, and the ASCCP management guidelines to the ATHENA trial and the LAST project will be discussed, as they relate to squamous abnormalities of the uterine cervix. The first component of the conference will be in the form of presentations that address to following topics: the cytologic features of squamous cell abnormalities and their mimickers, the key findings of the ASC-US Low-grade Triage Study (ALTS), the ASCCP guidelines for the management of squamous abnormalities, the current ASC/ASCCP/ASCP Screening Guidelines for Pap screening and HPV testing and data from the Addressing the Need for Advanced HPV Diagnostics (ATHENA) study. There will be emphasis on the histopathology and natural history of CIN/dysplasia, cyto-histopathology correlation and the recommendations of The Lower Anogenital Squamous Terminology Standardization Project for HPV-associated Lesions (LAST). The second component of this conference will be a presentation of selected cases for audience polling/open discussion. These cases will serve to illustrate the principles described earlier and engage the attendees in a discussion of their experience and approach toward screening, interpretation, and management.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the spectrum of squamous cell abnormalities and their differential diagnoses.
• Evaluate the significance and impact of the Pap test management guidelines and the role of HPV testing.
• Integrate practical diagnostic skills and management guidelines into the interpretation of squamous cell abnormalities.

9004-17 Mentoring for Success: Practical Tips and New Trends in Mentoring to Make the Most Out of Your Professional Career

Friday, September 08, 2017, 09:40 AM – 11:10 AM

Mentorship is a lifelong process important for career development. Mentoring relationships have been cited as important in career advancement, productivity, innovation and employee engagement. Among health professionals, mentoring commonly follows a traditional model characterized by one-on-one interactions. This model relays in several assumptions such as €œall mentors have a robust knowledge of mentoring basics, €œrecognize their biases, and count with €œsufficient time to devote to their mentees and to themselves to advance their skills. Under the current healthcare paradigm, mentoring relationships are challenged by increasing clinical, research, and administrative duties. In most cases, the mentors will use principles on how to guide the mentoring relationship based on intuition or prior interactions but not in any kind of formal education. This could potentially result in €œmentoring malpractice in some cases, as recognized in recent publications. Current paradigm shifts include newly introduced mentoring concepts such as “modern mentoring”, the impact of an organized mentoring program and the use of technology to advance mentoring relations. This course is designed to provide basic concepts as well as a practical approach to complex yet frequent challenges in mentoring for professionals of all levels of expertise. With an interactive approach, practical scenarios will be presented along with potential solutions and tools to overcome common difficulties.

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss historic and basic concepts in mentoring, including types, techniques and its differences with coaching.
• Analyze the impact of mentoring in healthcare professionals, and specific examples of mentorship in pathology programs.
• Identify challenges and potential solutions/tools to overcome those.

APF11-17 Leveraging Learning Style Preferences To Your Advantage-APF

Friday, September 08, 2017, 09:40 AM – 11:10 AM

As practicing professionals in the health-care setting, our ability to effectively teach and learn are critical skills that cross all competencies. In a culture that values the ability to reflect-on-action and to be self-directed, understanding learning style preferences in ourselves and in others with is important in identifying strategies to enhance our roles on the clinical teams with which we work. How do you effectively communicate information to other laboratory professionals, administrators and clinical colleagues? How do you function effectively in a group setting? How does one develop learning and work relationships with people whose learning preferences are different than yours? How do you improve the fit of your learning style with the kinds of learning experiences you face? How do you develop learning skills in areas that are opposite your present strengths and preferences? As a teacher, how do you construct learning opportunities that consider differences in learning style preferences of the individual or group you are working with? It is important to be aware of one’s own learning style, its effectiveness and where it can be improved. Likewise, recognizing differences among our colleagues should prompt us to consider strategies for more effective interactions. This session will provide an opportunity to reflect on and engage in discussion about one’s own learning style preferences and to strategize on ways to better accommodate and work with others who may have difference preferences. Attendees are asked to come ready to participate and share experiences. Attendees are encouraged to complete the Felder inventory before the session and bring their results to the course.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the importance in learning style preferences in our interactions with others in the workplace
• Identify strategies for dealing with other individuals who may have preferences different than our own
• Practice applying strategies to a group exercise session

APF12-17 Email, Texting and Social Media in Medicine and Pathology: Etiquette, Guidelines and Regulations-APF

Friday, September 08, 2017, 01:00 PM – 02:30 PM

Texting has surpassed emailing as the mode of effective communication. Social media is also an integral part of our daily life. The processes have become second nature. There is however little information on the guidelines for usage of e mail, texting and social media in medicine and specifically pathology. This information begins with €œetiquette” suggestions that are crucial for proper communication and avoidance of misunderstanding. Examples on what to write /communicate and what to avoid will be provided. The information goes deeper into what are €œreasonable, ethical and legal €œguidelines when it comes to these forms of communications. The guidelines have only recently become even more important with HIPA regulations overseeing these modalities. How colleagues communicate with each other and how patient information, including posting of images and cases, is very important and needs to be communicated to our society members.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the significant implications of e mail, texting and social media in medicine and pathology.
• Demonstrate the wide spectrum of guidelines fro common sense ones to regulatory oversight.
• Elaborate on the practical approach to assure proper communications and compliance.