Pancreatobiliary Pathology Society USCAP Companion Meeting 2023
Thank you for attending our companion meeting at USCAP 2023! A summary of the program is below; PDF versions of the presentations can also be downloaded from the links below.
Diagnostic Pearls and Pitfalls in the Interpretation of Small Biopsies and Frozen Sections of the Pancreatobiliary Tract
Pathologic diagnoses on small samples and frozen sections of the pancreatobiliary tract play a critical rule in the clinical decision making and proper care of patients with pancreatobiliary lesions. However, the preoperative diagnosis and classification of pancreatobiliary lesions on small biopsies, and the intra-operative interpretation of surgical specimens from the pancreatobiliary tract, are extremely challenging due to their limited nature and the frequent presence of severe crush, cautery and/or frozen artifacts. Additionally, differentiating reactive atypia secondary to chronic pancreatitis, instrumentation, calculi, among others, from malignancy is especially challenging. This course will examine key diagnostic pearls and pitfalls in the interpretation of small samples (Drs. Alyssa Krasinskas and Claudio Luchini) and frozen sections (Dr. Wendy Frankel) of the pancreatobiliary tract, with an emphasis on the utility of ancillary molecular and immunohistochemical studies that may be helpful in the differential diagnosis. Additionally, the new WHO International Classification System for the reporting of pancreatobiliary cytopathology will also be highlighted (Dr. Martha Pitman). Participants have repeatedly expressed how beneficial the interactive tabletop discussions were before the PBPS formally became a society (aka “Pancreatobiliary Pathology Luncheons”). To reimagine this in a larger forum, a round table session has been added this year. This round table will be moderated by Dr. Vikram Deshpande and Dr. Grace Kim who will devote time to distilling the presentations and addressing the challenges based on their expertise and experience in providing best practices for daily sign-out of these diagnostically challenging cases.
Course Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this educational activity, learners will be able to:
- Use the new WHO international classification system for reporting of pancreatobiliary cytology samples
- Learn key diagnostic pearls and common pitfalls in the interpretation of small samples of the pancreatobiliary tract
- Judiciously apply useful ancillary studies in the differential diagnosis of small pancreatobiliary samples
- Recognize the pitfalls or mistakes that are commonly encountered in intraoperative frozen sections performed on pancreatobiliary surgical specimens
WHO Reporting System for Reporting Pancreaticobiliary Cytology: An Overview and Differences with the Papanicolaou Society of Cytopathology Reporting System for Reporting Pancreaticobiliary Cytology
Martha Bishop Pitman, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School
Dr. Pitman’s Presentation
Diagnostic Pearls and Pitfalls in the Evaluation of Small Biopsies and Cytologic Samples from the Bile Duct and Ampulla
Alyssa M. Krasinskas, MD, Emory University
Dr. Krasinskas’ Presentation
Diagnostic Pearls and Pitfalls in the Evaluation of Small Biopsies of the Pancreas
Claudio Luchini, Prof., MD, PhD, University of Verona
Dr. Luchini’s Presentation
Intra-operative Evaluation of Pancreatobiliary Specimens
Wendy L. Frankel, MD, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
Dr. Frankel’s Presentation
Round Table and Q&A Session
Moderated by Dr. Vikram Deshpande and Dr. Grace E. Kim
Session Chairs
Vikram Deshpande, MD
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School
Boston, MA, United States
Grace E. Kim, MD
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, CA, United States