Educational Case: A Uterine Neoplasm

The following fictional case is intended as a learning tool within the Pathology Competencies for Medical Education (PCME), a set of national standards for teaching pathology. These are divided into three basic competencies: Disease Mechanisms and Processes, Organ System Pathology, and Diagnostic Medicine and Therapeutic Pathology. For additional information, and a full list of learning objectives for all three competencies, see http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2374289517715040

Pediatric colonic inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor presenting as colo-colonic intussusception: A case report and review of the literature

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors (IMTs) are rare tumors of intermediate biologic potential most often reported in children. Histologic characteristics of IMT include spindle cell proliferation with chronic inflammatory cell infiltrate. IMTs can occur anywhere in the body but are most commonly reported in lung, bowel mesentery, and liver. Nonmesenteric alimentary IMTs are exceedingly rare. We present the second case of colonic IMT presenting as colo-colonic intussusception in a child. The patient is a 12-year-old female who presented with vague abdominal pain for three months. Her workup revealed an intraluminal mass in the descending colon on both CT and colonoscopy. Intraoperatively, the mass was seen causing colo-colonic intussusception. Laparoscopic segmental colon resection was performed, and the patient did well postoperatively. Histology and immunohistochemistry of the mass confirmed IMT

Prospective Isolation and Comparison of Human Germinal Matrix and Glioblastoma EGFR(+) Populations with Stem Cell Properties

Characterization of non-neoplastic and malignant human stem cell populations in their native state can provide new insights into gliomagenesis. Here we developed a purification strategy to directly isolate EGFR(+/-) populations from human germinal matrix (GM) and adult subventricular zone autopsy tissues, and from de novo glioblastoma (GBM) resections, enriching for cells capable of binding EGF ligand ((LB)EGFR(+)), and uniquely compared their functional and molecular properties. (LB)EGFR(+) populations in both GM and GBM encompassed all sphere-forming cells and displayed proliferative stem cell properties in vitro. In xenografts, (LB)EGFR(+) GBM cells showed robust tumor initiation and progression to high-grade, infiltrative gliomas. Whole-transcriptome sequencing analysis confirmed enrichment of proliferative pathways in both developing and neoplastic freshly isolated EGFR(+) populations, and identified both unique and shared sets of genes. The ability to prospectively isolate stem cell populations using native ligand-binding capacity opens new doors onto understanding both normal human development and tumor cell biology

Consensus Guidelines for Practical Competencies in Anatomic Pathology and Laboratory Medicine for the Undifferentiated Graduating Medical Student

The practice of pathology is not generally addressed in the undergraduate medical school curriculum. It is desirable to develop practical pathology competencies in the fields of anatomic pathology and laboratory medicine for every graduating medical student to facilitate (1) instruction in effective utilization of these services for optimal patient care, (2) recognition of the role of pathologists and laboratory scientists as consultants, and (3) exposure to the field of pathology as a possible career choice. A national committee was formed, including experts in anatomic pathology and/or laboratory medicine and in medical education. Suggested practical pathology competencies were developed in 9 subspecialty domains based on literature review and committee deliberations. The competencies were distributed in the form of a survey in late 2012 through the first half of 2013 to the medical education community for feedback, which was subjected to quantitative and qualitative analysis. An approval rate of ≥80% constituted consensus for adoption of a competency, with additional inclusions/modifications considered following committee review of comments. The survey included 79 proposed competencies. There were 265 respondents, the majority being pathologists. Seventy-two percent (57 of 79) of the competencies were approved by ≥80% of respondents. Numerous comments (N = 503) provided a robust resource for qualitative analysis. Following committee review, 71 competencies (including 27 modified and 3 new competencies) were considered to be essential for undifferentiated graduating medical students. Guidelines for practical pathology competencies have been developed, with the hope that they will be implemented in undergraduate medical school curricula

Key Histopathologic Features of Liver Biopsies That Distinguish Biliary Atresia From Other Causes of Infantile Cholestasis and Their Correlation With Outcome

The liver biopsy guides diagnostic investigation and therapy in infants with undiagnosed cholestasis. Histologic features in the liver may also have prognostic value in the patient with biliary atresia (BA). We assessed the relative value of histologic features in 227 liver needle biopsies in discriminating between BA and other cholestatic disorders in infants enrolled in a prospective Childhood Liver Disease Research Network (ChiLDReN) cohort study by correlating histology with clinical findings in infants with and without BA. In addition, we reviewed 316 liver biopsies from clinically proven BA cases and correlated histologic features with total serum bilirubin 6 months after hepatoportoenterostomy (the Kasai procedure, HPE) and transplant-free survival up to 6 years. Review pathologists were blinded to clinical information except age. Semiquantitative scoring of 26 discrete histologic features was based on consensus. Bile plugs in portal bile ducts/ductules, moderate to marked ductular reaction, and portal stromal edema had the largest odds ratio for predicting BA versus non-BA by logistic regression analysis. The diagnostic accuracy of the needle biopsy was estimated to be 90.1% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 85.2%, 94.9%), whereas sensitivity and specificity for a diagnosis of BA are 88.4% (95% CI: 81.4, 93.5) and 92.7% (95% CI: 84.8, 97.3), respectively. No histologic features were associated with an elevated serum bilirubin 6 months after HPE, although it (an elevated serum bilirubin) was associated with an older age at HPE. Higher stages of fibrosis, a ductal plate configuration, moderate to marked bile duct injury, an older age at HPE, and an elevated international normalized ratio were independently associated with a higher risk of transplantation