Even though pathologists are taught during their training that x ray data must be incorporated into the analysis of bone lesions, pathologists often find it difficult to correlate radiographic findings with histopathology. This course is designed to provide practicing pathologists with a working knowledge of how to use radiographic data in formulating their orthopedic diagnoses. Its emphasis is on the way that microscopic findings, together with the imaging studies, form a logical framework for differential diagnoses in bone diseases. The didactic portion of this course reviews the anatomy and composition of bone and soft tissues and how X-rays, CT scanners, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging interact with these structures to produce images. Before moving on to actual case materials, examples of the ways in which various bone abnormalities produce characteristic radiographic findings are illustrated using clinical images along with gross specimens, specimen radiographs, and their corresponding histopathology. Histologic sections of ten illustrative cases accompanied by radiographs and other relevant clinical imaging studies will be distributed to the first 50 course registrants. These cases have been selected to emphasize the special relationship that radiographic analysis plays in the establishment of a diagnosis rather than for their histologic difficulty alone. While many of the cases are bone tumors, several have been chosen to illustrate how important a role that pathoradiographic correlation plays in the nontumorous conditions that the general pathologist is more likely to encounter. After having taken this course, participants should be able to accomplish the following objectives:

1. To have a reasonable idea how to classify a lesion based upon radiographs.
2. To logically deduce the biologic potential of a bone tumor from a radiograph.
3. To be reasonably certain of the adequacy of a bone biopsy, and how representative it is of the process as a whole.
4. To appreciate the limitations and potential dangers of bone histodiagnosis without radiographic data.

A limited number of sets of glass slides will be available for advance mailing. All registrants will receive a set of transparencies after the meeting. Course registrants will receive a detailed syllabus at the time of the course.