This course will review a broad spectrum of interpretative problems commonly encountered in diagnosis of premalignant (in situ) epithelial lesions of the upper and lower female genital tract - from ovary to vulva. Emphasis will be placed on commonly encountered diagnostic entities. Special attention will be paid to consideration of sampling problems, modifying effects of hormonal and reactive environments on interpretation, and those diagnostic thresholds that correspond to clinical management decisions. This course is relevant to any pathologist engaged in the interpretation of gynecologic surgical pathology specimens from trainees to established pathologists.

Upon completion of this educational activity, participants should be able to: 1) Describe characteristics and diagnostic feature of premalignant lesions which distinguish them from carcinoma; 2) Summarize differences between benign mimics (reactive changes, hormonal effects, and other benign processes) and premalignant lesions; 3) Describe uses of special studies in common diagnostic settings; and 4) Recognize the clinical implications of common pathologic diagnoses. Registrants will have access to pre-meeting materials consisting of case images and histories available to them on the USCAP Website along with a syllabus which will be distributed at the meeting. Registrants will also have access to materials posted online after the meeting including the PowerPoint handouts.