This course will be the first in a series of Cytopathology courses, each dedicated to an organ or body site. The case based approach will present the participant with reality based instruction simulating active practice. The patient situation will be the typical but sometimes the unusual presentation of non-neoplastic and neoplastic mass lesions in the liver that are commonly evaluated by FNAB. The cases will be richly illustrated to allow the participant to get a thorough view of the lesion. FNAB smears using various stains as well as cellblock preparations and ancillary techniques will be presented where appropriate.

Each case will be discussed in detail including each disclaimer. The disclaimers will be lesions frequently in the differential diagnosis of the correct answer and the discussion of the case will center around the often subtle morphological distinctions and useful ancillary tests required to make an accurate diagnosis.

Advances in the filed utilizing molecular techniques will also be included with some cases.

NUMBER OF CREDIT HOURS: The Harvard Medical School designates this educational activity for a maximum of 3 AMA PRA Category 1 credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

COST: $60.00
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OVERALL LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

1. To learn the cytomorphological and useful ancillary techniques for the diagnosis of tumors in the liver sampled by fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB).

CLINICAL LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

1. To understand the clinical utility of FNAB in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of liver masses
2. Apply learned diagnostic criteria for common and uncommon lesions in the liver for accurate diagnosis which directly affects patient management and utilization of overall hospital resources.

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MARTHA BISHOP PITMAN, MD Course Director

Dr. Pitman is an Associate Professor of Pathology at Harvard Medical School and is an assistant director of the cytopathology laboratory and director of the fine needle aspiration biopsy service at Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Pitman has authored two books on fine needle aspiration biopsy, one on the liver (Pitman MB and Szyfelbein WS. Fine needle aspiration biopsy of the liver. Butterworth-Heinemann, Boston, 1994), and one on the pancreas (Centeno BA and Pitman MB. Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy of the Pancreas. Butterworth-Heinemann, Boston, 1998). She has a long standing interest in the diagnostic utility of fine needle aspiration biopsy of all body sites and has lectured and taught CME workshops both nationally and internationally. DISCLOSURE: No disclosures.

KRISTEN ATKINS, MD Course Contributor

Dr. Atkins is an assistant professor of Pathology at the University of Virginia in Charlotsville, Virginia. She completed her residency and Surgical Pathology Fellowship at Stanford Medical Center and her Cytopathology Fellowship at Virginia Commonwealth University. Her research interests include fluid cytology in ovarian cancer, Uterine Smooth Muscle Tumors, and clinical applications of proteomic research. DISCLOSURE: No disclosure

EDMUND S. CIBAS, MD Course Contributor

Edmund S. Cibas, MD is Director of Cytopathology at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Associate Professor of Pathology at Harvard Medical School. He is co-author of Cytology: Diagnostic Principles and Clinical Correlates and directs the annual "Advances in Cytology" course sponsored by the Harvard Medical School Office for Continuing Medical Education. His research interests include quality control, informatics, and application of automation and molecular methods to diagnostic cytology. DISCLOSURE: Cytyc Corporation: Research Grant

ROBERTO LOGROŅO, MD Course Contributor

Roberto Logroņo, M.D. is Associate Professor of Pathology, Director of Cytopathology, and Director of the Cytopathology Fellowship program at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. Dr. Logroņo’s main area of interest is the Cytopathology of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. He directs ongoing workshops at national specialty meetings and has co-authored numerous publications pertaining to brush cytology of the biliary and pancreatic ducts, and the use of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration in peer-reviewed specialty journals. DISCLOSURE: No disclosures

ROSEMARY TAMBOURET, MD Course Contributor

Rosemary Tambouret MD is Assistant Director of Cytopathology and Director of the Cytopathology Fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital. Her main areas of research interest are in cytopathology and gynecologic pathology. DISCLOSURE: No Disclosures

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NUMBER OF CREDITS: 3 

Harvard Medical School is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The Harvard Medical School designates this educational activity for a maximum of 3 AMA PRA Category 1 credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Upon completion of the course you will get a certificate via e-mail within 2 weeks.

Click the image to view a sample of the certificate

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