Vascular diseases are responsible for significant morbidity and mortality. They can affect multiple organ systems simultaneously or may be very limited. Symptoms caused by vascular diseases are often non-specific. Thus, the morphological examination of a biopsy becomes crucial in the diagnostic decision making process, thereby, pathologists play a central role in “patient management”. Pathologists are frequently challenged to provide rapid and specific diagnoses of vascular diseases before intense and potentially harmful treatment regimens are initiated. However, the diversity of morphological patterns and the confusing terminology used both clinically and in the pathology literature can cause major problems for pathologists “in the hot seat” and compromise accurate diagnostic decision making.

The aim of this short course is to provide a general didactic, predominantly case-based presentation of selected common and problematic vascular disorders with a major focus on the morphological and pertinent pathophysiological aspects. Examples of vascular disease in various organs will be presented, with an emphasis on the kidney due to the high frequency with which renal vessels are affected. The course will be divided into three main blocks and will cover: I) vasculitides, II) vasculopathies (e.g. thrombotic microangiopathies such as HUS and TTP), and III) transplant vasculopathies focusing on different forms of vascular diseases seen in renal transplants and including vascular rejection). Our goal is to provide a systematic didactic approach to the diagnostic evaluation of vascular lesions based on morphological findings and the use of ancillary techniques (e.g. serology). We will emphasize the importance of close clinico-pathological correlation in order to make specific diagnoses and improve patient management.

This course should help pathologists render specific diagnoses using an algorithmic approach. At the end of each main block, a short quiz will highlight key aspects. Our course is suitable for practicing general pathologists and pathology residents and fellows with some interest in kidney diseases. Our main goal is to make practicing pathologists proficient in the diagnosis of a broad range of vascular diseases. Registrants will be mailed a CD-Rom of representative cases/images prior to the meeting. These cases will be discussed during the course. An extensive syllabus will be distributed at the time of the course and a CD of additional materials will be mailed after the meeting.