The skin can provide a macroscopic and microscopic reflection of one’s health. Appreciating the subtleties of both is a fundamental exercise of the successful pathologist and the essence of this course. Participants will be exposed to the cutaneous manifestations of a wide-variety of serious systemic inflammatory disorders such as lupus erythematosus and neoplastic conditions including Cowden’s and Muir-Torre syndromes and learn to recognize the finer details that allow separation of these important entities from trivial mimics.

The course will provide an overview of the cutaneous manifestations of a selection of systemic diseases. Using the basic philosophy that the skin provides a window into the person as a whole, the course directors will present a series of cases designed to instruct course participants in the interpretation of changes in the skin within a broader context. At the end of the course, participants should have a better understanding of how to recognize a series of seemingly innocuous inflammatory dermatoses or benign neoplasms. Further, they will be aware of the association between these diagnoses and possible more dire systemic problems.

The course will utilize a case-based approach of ten entities with a discussion of the important differential diagnosis appropriate for residents, fellows, and practicing pathologists. A limited number of glass slides will be available for advance mailing. A syllabus containing the Power-Point slides and text will be distributed at the course. All registrants will be mailed a CD-ROM of the course materials after the meeting.