Surya V. Seshan, M.D., New York-Presbyterian Hospital and Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York and Lorraine C. Racusen, M.D., Johns Hopkins Hospital and Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
This course is directed mainly to practicing pathologists, immunopathologists, fellows in renal pathology and immunopathology, and pathology residents. It will provide a systematic, clinicopathologic approach to the diagnosis of the most common primary and secondary glomerular diseases in the native kidney. The major objective is recognition of the basic patterns of glomerular injury, correlation with clinical findings, development of reasonable differential diagnoses (at the time of preliminary light microscopic examination) and arriving at the final diagnosis or impression using electron and immunofluorescence microscopic examination where necessary. The discussion also focuses on the application and utility of special stains, EM, IF and other methods. The prognostic value of the pathological findings, as well as their role in therapeutic decision making will be highlighted. This workshop along with a detailed handout also emphasizes the practical aspects such as: 1. Usefulness of clinical and laboratory data, 2. Proper handling and processing of renal biopsies/tissue for optimal utilization, 3. Frequently encountered problems with sampling and pitfalls in diagnosis, 4. Adequate review of normal architecture by light and electron microscopy, and 5. Essentials of an adequate renal biopsy report.
The WHO Classification of Glomerular Diseases which is based on combined morphology (LM, EM, IF) and clinical presentation will be used as a guide in the organization of the course. Up-to-date information regarding current pathogenetic mechanisms will be reviewed briefly. A CD containing the case histories and images of the cases (LM, IF, EM) will be mailed in advance to the participants for study. A detailed syllabus containing the diagnoses and discussion of each case along with an initial practical section containing some of the tables given in the course. Another CD containing all the cases discussed including additional study cases (clinical summaries, images, pathologic description and discussion), key to the images and the syllabus is sent to all the registered participants after the meeting. (Last Scheduled Presentation)
