This practical course will address common yet important topics in gastrointestinal pathology by comparing and contrasting a spectrum of entities with overlapping histologic findings. Rather than the usual case-study approach, this unique course will focus on a selected set of common diagnostic problems related to biopsy diagnosis in gastrointestinal pathology. The course consists of six discussions, each focusing on a diagnostically difficult histologic pattern of injury. For each "diagnostic problem," a series of cases have been chosen that include a difficult diagnostic case along with other cases in order to 1) demonstrate the spectrum of disease, and 2) provide material for comparison, and 3) illustrate a practical approach to the diagnostic problem. This format allows the discussant to compare and contrast key distinguishing features of multiple entities with overlapping histologic findings, and the course participant will have the opportunity to see the spectrum of pathology in the differential diagnosis and key differences that help reach the correct diagnosis. While the course will primarily focus on biopsy pathology, resection specimens will also be included in order to illustrate patterns of histologic abnormalities and related pathologic processes. Where appropriate, clinical features and ancillary test results will be emphasized with attention to how these data contribute to the pathologic diagnosis. Time for questions/answers and case discussions will be allotted. The case-based topics to be covered include: 1) Serrated colonic lesions, 2) Esophageal eosinophils, 3) Subepithelial collagen thickening, 4) Colonic adenomas with invasive cancer versus pseudoinvasion (benign misplaced glands), 5) Intraepithelial lymphocytosis in the small bowel, 6) Dysplasia in Barrett's Esophagus.

Upon completion of the course, participants should be able to: 1) illustrate the major differential diagnoses for common GI findings 2) demonstrate a spectrum of difficult diagnostic problems in GI pathology 3) compare and contrast pathologic processes with overlapping pathologic and clinical features 4) provide a practical approach to a set of diagnostic problems in GI pathology 5) emphasize critical clinical factors in establishing diagnoses

The course is designed for general surgical pathologists and pathologists-in-training. Pre-registrants will receive CD-ROMs by mail, including histologic photographs and brief clinical histories. A comprehensive course syllabus will be distributed at the course. After the meeting, a CD-ROM including histologic photographs and the course syllabus will be mailed to all course registrants.

(Last Scheduled Presentation) This course may be used for CME credits or SAM's credits.