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The CAP created this aid for pathologists on the processing and reporting of pregnancy tissues/products of conception (POC) specimens. This aid conveys general guidance on the issues that pathologists may face but does not convey legal advice.
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Recent advances and innovations in microscopic imaging technology are demonstrating the potential to significantly enhance the current clinical practice of diagnostic pathology.
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The field of immuno-oncology (IO) continues to expand and evolve, delivering unprecedented clinical benefit to patients across a growing number of tumor types. However, IO therapies are not effective in all patients and can be associated with autoimmune side effects, which can be severe.
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Large B-cell lymphomas are a heterogeneous group of aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL). Treatment responses and patient outcomes vary greatly between subtypes and depend on whether lymphomas occur de novo or as transformation of a preexisting low-grade lymphoma, on anatomic location, or on morphologic variant.
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The advances in radiographic techniques that enable precise targeting of lesions has revived attention to cytology specimens acquired by fine needle aspiration (FNA). One of the major advantages of FNA is that it is less invasive and better tolerated than a larger tissue biopsy and in many clinical scenarios provides sufficient material not only for morphological evaluation but also for ancillary studies including molecular testing. Accordingly, it is important to understand the pros and cons of molecular tests performed on cytological preparations.
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Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are the most common type of mesenchymal tumors of the digestive tract. GIST may occur anywhere in the GI tract, but stomach [60% of cases] and small intestine [30%] are the most common sites. From molecular genetics points of view, GIST can be grouped into 4 major molecularly-defined groups: 1) KIT mutated [about 75 to 80%], 2) PDGFRA mutated [about 5 to 10%], 3) SDH-deficient [about 5 to 10%], and 4) other rare driver mutations [NF1, NTRK, BRAF etc].
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Increasingly, pathologists employ molecular testing as an aid in sarcoma diagnosis. The intent of this article is to summarize the current state of routine molecular testing in sarcomas. The future direction of this testing is also briefly discussed.
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This article examines the liquid biopsy (using a body fluid sample to test for relevant biomarkers) as one of the minimally invasive testing methods to emerge in recent years.
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Advances in molecular testing technologies have changed the diagnosis, monitoring and disease management of T-cell malignances and may provide therapeutic targets. Understanding the basic principles of the molecular assays and the updated knowledge of genomic alterations will make practicing pathologists an integral part of patient management.
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We all know it; we all live it. Aging wreaks all sorts of havoc with your body. Not surprisingly, those changes even occur at the DNA level.
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Dr. Damon Olson expounds on the differences in tumors between adults and pediatric patients and why pediatric molecular oncology testing must reflect these differences to properly treat younger patients.
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Dr. Chung-Che Chang summarizes the important biomarkers associated with targeted therapies for practicing pathologists in light of recent advancements in biomarker testing.
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CAP member Dr. Annette Kim shares pathology highlights from ASH 2020.
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CAP member Dr. Jordan Laser reviews key presentations from AMP 2020, including sessions focused on infectious disease, genetics, solid tumors, hematopathology, and informatics.
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CAP member Dr. Sophia Yohe reviews a few key studies and abstracts from ASCO 2020 with potential impact to the practice of molecular genetic pathology.
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With the varying percentages of accuracy surrounding SARS-CoV-2 PCR tests, this article examines the analytic and clinical performance of diagnostic PCR tests for COVID-19.
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Recognizing the widespread and growing importance of molecular data derived from patient specimens, especially patients with cancer, the Personalized Healthcare Committee established the Preanalytics for Precision Medicine Project Team to develop a basic set of recommendations from the literature for preanalytics for both tissue and blood specimens that could be implemented in routine pathology practice.
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CAP member Dr. Joseph Willis writes how the advent of new molecularly targeted treatment strategies for patients with advanced colorectal cancer places anatomic and molecular pathologists as key players in the delivery of care for this large patient population.