Every autumn, the Department of Pathology at the University of Michigan (UM) organizes a case-based CME (continuing medical education) conference directed toward an audience of community as well as academic pathologists and trainees. The intent is to provide up-to-date and cutting edge information for the practicing pathologist. Last year, the 3-day conference took place in Ann Arbor on October 19–21, 2017. Although we invited 3 excellent outside speakers, the meeting was primarily “home grown” with the majority of case studies and interactive break-out sessions presented by UM faculty. With gracious support from the editorial staff of Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, we put forth 15 review articles based on topics presented at the conference. The manuscripts are published in 2 separate issues: Part I in this issue and Part II in the November issue.
This issue (Part I) contains 8 review articles that focus on surgical pathology. Grace Wang, MD, and David Lucas, MD, present a concise review of myofibroblastic differentiation in dedifferentiated liposarcoma, a pattern largely underrecognized by pathologists that can be readily mistaken for a variety of alternate neoplastic and reactive tumors. Alexander Taylor, MD, Rohit Mehra, MD, and Aaron Udager, MD, PhD, present a very thorough review of clinicopathologic findings in glandular lesions of the urachus and urinary bladder, as well as a comprehensive discussion of differential diagnostic considerations. Kristine Konopka, MD, and Jeffrey Myers, MD, review the classification and clinicoradiographic features of smoking-related interstitial lung disease, including clarification of the sometimes confusing terminology. Ellen East, MD, Cody Carter, MD, and Celina Kleer, MD, review the histologic, clinical, and prognostic significance of diagnosing atypical ductal hyperplasia in breast biopsies. There are 2 articles on nonneoplastic liver pathology: one by Mark Ettel, MD, and Henry Appelman, MD, on approach to liver biopsies in patients with chronic low-level aminotransferase elevations, and the second by Shula Schechter, MD, and Laura Lamps, MD, who review the clinicopathologic findings and differential diagnosis in Epstein-Barr virus hepatitis. Cody Carter, MD, Ellen East, MD, and Jonathan McHugh, MD, present an update and review on the clinicopathologic, immunohistochemical, and molecular features of the rare biphenotypic sinonasal sarcoma, while Stephanie Skala, MD, Saravan Dhanasekaran, PhD, and Rohit Mehra, MD, present a very comprehensive overview of leiomyomatosis and renal cell carcinoma syndrome.
The upcoming issue next month (Part II) contains 7 articles and is dedicated mostly to hematopathology, which was a key focus of this year's conference. Topics include primary cutaneous follicle center lymphoma by Stephanie Skala, MD, Boris Hristov, MD, and Alexandra Hristov, MD; histiocytic sarcomas by Stephanie Skala, MD, David Lucas, MD, and Rajan Dewar, MD, PhD; follicular lymphomas by Sarah Choi, MD, PhD, Bryan Betz, PhD, and Anamarija Perry, MD; and Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease by Anamarija Perry, MD, and Sarah Choi, MD, PhD. In addition, Steven Weindorf, MD, Lauren Smith, MD, and Scott Owens, MD, discuss gastrointestinal lymphoma updates, and Stephanie Chen, MD, Daniel Boyer, MD, and Alexandra Hristov, MD, present primary cutaneous composite lymphomas. These 6 review articles provide a comprehensive overview of emerging concepts in the classification and differential diagnosis of both common and unusual hematopoietic diseases. The final article in the November issue is a thorough overview and update of a rare pediatric tumor, melanotic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy, and its differential diagnosis, by Brian Soles, MD, Allecia Wilson, MD, David Lucas, MD, and Amer Heider, MD.
We hope you enjoy these articles.
Lauren B. Smith, MD
Lauren B. Smith, MD, attended the University of Michigan (UM) Medical School and completed her residency in anatomic and clinical pathology and hematopathology fellowship at UM (2002–2007). In 2007 she was appointed assistant professor, was promoted to associate professor (2013), and to professor (2018). She is director of hematopathology and director of the hematopathology fellowship. In addition to her interest in pathology, she is active in bioethics. She is director of the Ethics Path of Excellence at UM Medical School and serves as a clinical ethicist at the University of Michigan Health System. She is affiliated with the Center for Bioethics and Social Sciences in Medicine where she is the lead for education.
Lauren B. Smith, MD
Lauren B. Smith, MD, attended the University of Michigan (UM) Medical School and completed her residency in anatomic and clinical pathology and hematopathology fellowship at UM (2002–2007). In 2007 she was appointed assistant professor, was promoted to associate professor (2013), and to professor (2018). She is director of hematopathology and director of the hematopathology fellowship. In addition to her interest in pathology, she is active in bioethics. She is director of the Ethics Path of Excellence at UM Medical School and serves as a clinical ethicist at the University of Michigan Health System. She is affiliated with the Center for Bioethics and Social Sciences in Medicine where she is the lead for education.
Maria Westerhoff, MD
Maria Westerhoff, MD, graduated from the Guaranteed Professional Program Admissions and Honors College of University of Illinois-Chicago and received her medical degree in 2006. She then completed her pathology residency and fellowship in gastrointestinal and hepatic pathology at the University of Chicago in 2011. She was a faculty member at the University of Washington in Seattle in 2011, where she was promoted to associate professor in 2016. She joined the University of Michigan in 2017. Dr Westerhoff is the chair of the education committee of the Rodger Haggitt Gastrointestinal Pathology Society, education committee member of the Hans Popper Hepatopathology Society, a member of the Laennec Society, and member of the congress scientific advisory board of the World Organization for Specialized Studies on Diseases of the Esophagus.
Maria Westerhoff, MD
Maria Westerhoff, MD, graduated from the Guaranteed Professional Program Admissions and Honors College of University of Illinois-Chicago and received her medical degree in 2006. She then completed her pathology residency and fellowship in gastrointestinal and hepatic pathology at the University of Chicago in 2011. She was a faculty member at the University of Washington in Seattle in 2011, where she was promoted to associate professor in 2016. She joined the University of Michigan in 2017. Dr Westerhoff is the chair of the education committee of the Rodger Haggitt Gastrointestinal Pathology Society, education committee member of the Hans Popper Hepatopathology Society, a member of the Laennec Society, and member of the congress scientific advisory board of the World Organization for Specialized Studies on Diseases of the Esophagus.
David R. Lucas, MD
David R. Lucas, MD, received his MD degree from Wayne State University (WSU). After completing his anatomic pathology residency at WSU, he spent 2 years as a bone and soft tissue and surgical pathology fellow at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. In 1993, he accepted a faculty position at WSU, was promoted to associate professor in 2000, and worked there until 2003. Dr Lucas was course director for the sophomore connective tissue unit at WSU (1995–2003) and director of immunohistochemistry at the Detroit Medical Center (2000–2003). Dr Lucas joined the faculty of the University of Michigan (2003) and was promoted to professor (2006). He served as director of immunohistochemistry (2006–2010), director of surgical pathology (2010–2015), and program director of the surgical pathology fellowship (2010–2015). In December 2015 he was appointed director of anatomic pathology, and in 2016 was endowed with the A. James French Professorship in Anatomic Pathology.
David R. Lucas, MD
David R. Lucas, MD, received his MD degree from Wayne State University (WSU). After completing his anatomic pathology residency at WSU, he spent 2 years as a bone and soft tissue and surgical pathology fellow at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. In 1993, he accepted a faculty position at WSU, was promoted to associate professor in 2000, and worked there until 2003. Dr Lucas was course director for the sophomore connective tissue unit at WSU (1995–2003) and director of immunohistochemistry at the Detroit Medical Center (2000–2003). Dr Lucas joined the faculty of the University of Michigan (2003) and was promoted to professor (2006). He served as director of immunohistochemistry (2006–2010), director of surgical pathology (2010–2015), and program director of the surgical pathology fellowship (2010–2015). In December 2015 he was appointed director of anatomic pathology, and in 2016 was endowed with the A. James French Professorship in Anatomic Pathology.