Clinching the Diagnosis: When the Biopsy Isn't the Whole Story

Pathologists must often render diagnoses based on partial or limited tissue samples and/or limited clinical information. In Clinching the Diagnosis: When the Biopsy Isn’t the Whole Story, we'll explore how integrating clinical history, imaging, and pathology findings can be essential for confident diagnoses when biopsy material is incomplete. Join us for a discussion of real-world cases in which partial sampling and limited clinical information posed diagnostic challenges, and discover how multidisciplinary communication helped resolve them. You'll see how collaboration, clinical context, and thoughtful interpretation are vital tools in navigating diagnostic uncertainty.

By the end of this session, you'll be able to:

• Identify common diagnostic pitfalls when lesions are partially sampled or clinical history is incomplete/missing.
• Use clinical-pathologic correlation, particularly in cases where histologic findings are non-specific or potentially misleading.
• Communicate effectively with radiologists and other clinicians to ensure the availability and appropriate use of relevant clinical information.
• Apply insights to real-world scenarios where definitive diagnoses may hinge on integrating multidisciplinary data.
• Responsibly manage "borderline" or ambiguous cases.

Moderator:
Shane D. B. Smith, MD, FCAP

Speakers: 
Nashay Clemetson, MD
Dermatologist

Deangelo Furgeson, MD
Surgeon