The pathologic evaluation of the lesions of endocrine organs can be a difficult task due to lack of well-defined morphologic criteria and subtle functional alterations leading to subtle or marked cellular atypia. This course will offer practical hints based on presenters' experience and literature that can aid in the diagnosis of fine-needle aspiration specimens, intraoperative consultations, as well as histology, with conventional histopathology and immunohistochemical and molecular diagnostic tools.

Using a case study approach, this course will illustrate and discuss the following seven diagnostic problem areas: (1) the value and limitations of fine needle aspiration cytology of endocrine tissues with focus on thyroid FNA; (2) the use and abuse of intraoperative consultations, with frozen sections and cytologic touch preparations; (3) the criteria for and the clinical significance of distinguishing endocrine hyperplasia from neoplasia and their clinical consequences; (4) definitions of capsules and capsular invasion as a criterion of malignancy in endocrine tumors; (5) the significance of cellular or architectural atypia, mitoses, necrosis and ploidy alterations in endocrine tumors; (6) the definition and significance of oncocytic change in endocrine cells, tissues and tumors; and (7) the role of histochemical, immunohistochemical and molecular markers in defining cell differentiation, function and clinical behavior in endocrine lesions.

Images and clinical histories will be posted on the USCAP website for review by pre-registrants prior to the meeting. A syllabus will be distributed to registrants at the meeting. After the meeting, all participants will receive web access to the PowerPoint presentations given during the USCAP Annual Meeting along with the text portion of the syllabus.

This course may be used for CME credits or SAM credits.