This course will provide pathologists with an update on breast core needle biopsy procedures and interpretation, addressing areas of recurrent diagnostic difficulty and related clinical implications. Cases that illustrate diagnostic challenges and management issues on core biopsy material will be selected for discussion (for example, spindle cell lesions, fibroepithelial lesions and small glandular proliferations). Review of each of the cases selected will highlight the morphologic features diagnostic of the lesion in question, and will detail the morphologic mimics and possible pitfalls associated with the diagnosis. The value and limitations of ancillary testing, such as immunohistochemistry, to aid in the differential diagnosis will be discussed where appropriate. In addition to gaining further competence in the diagnosis of breast lesions on core needle biopsy material, participants will also become familiar with the clinical implications of the diagnoses, in particular with respect to controversies over excision for a variety of benign breast lesions. The critical importance of radiologic/pathologic correlation will be emphasized and illustrated with examples.

This course will be of value to general pathologists, residents and fellows, and pathologists with a special interest in breast diseases. Registrants will have access to pre-meeting materials available on the USCAP Website along with a syllabus distributed at the meeting, and registrants will also have access to materials posted after the meeting.

(NEW COURSE) This course may be used for CME credits or SAM credits.