Pediatric cancer is fortunately uncommon. Because of its low incidence, it is often difficult for pathologists outside the setting of a pediatric referral center to remain current with advances in diagnosis and the often-changing management strategies of pediatric tumors. This course is designed to familiarize general pathologists and pathologists-in-training with basic concepts and a practical approach to the differential diagnosis and appropriate pathologic classification of pediatric cancer. The course will address both solid and hematopoietic neoplasms and focus on the tumors most likely to be encountered in general practice. A case-study approach will be used to highlight the clinical, morphologic, immunophenotypic and biologic features of each entity followed by a discussion of the diagnostic, grading and staging aspects that are relevant in therapeutic decision-making. Specific entities to be discussed include neuroblastoma, Wilms tumor, rhabdomyosarcoma, anaplastic large cell lymphoma, Burkitt lymphoma, lymphoblastic lymphoma and large B-cell lymphoma.

Case histories and CD-ROM slide sets will be available for advance mailing. A detailed syllabus and CD-ROM will be distributed at the time of the course.