Do you ever wonder what cases in your daily signout could benefit from molecular analysis? If you are a pathologist or resident without extensive experience in molecular biology, and you want to learn more about what molecular tests are available to help you diagnostically, this course is for you. We will provide a basic review of techniques in molecular pathology, including microdissection, PCR, and RT-PCR. Guidelines for which types of test require fresh and frozen tissues will be discussed.

We will use a series of cases to illustrate situations in anatomic pathology that can be addressed with molecular testing. The cases include analysis of "tissue floaters," genetic analysis of prognostic genes in tumors, differentiating second primary tumors from metastasis, differentiation of neoplastic and non-neoplastic proliferative processes, and the use of tumor-specific genes as an aid to diagnosis.

The course objectives are the following: 1) to understand molecular techniques and terminology and see their applications to fresh, frozen, and paraffin-embedded tissues; 2) to look at specific common questions in anatomic pathology that can be addressed using molecular analyses.

A limited number of loan sets of glass slides will be available for advance mailing and all registrants will receive a set of transparencies for retention after the meeting. A syllabus will be distributed at the time of the course. Each registrant will also receive a CD containing our entire Power-Point presentation and a list of laboratories currently offering tissue-based molecular testing.