DOCSLIB.ORG

Abpath Booklet of Information

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Abpath Booklet of Information American Board of Pathology BOOKLET OF INFORMATION REVISED JULY 2020 We appreciate your feedback. What other questions do you have? We are here to help. Check out our website https://www.abpath.org) or follow us on social media. THE AMERICAN BOARD OF PATHOLOGY Questions remaining after review of this document may be addressed to Rebecca L. Johnson, M.D. Chief Executive Officer [email protected] Ty McCarthy Chief Operating Officer [email protected] Mary Pyfrom Primary Certification Coordinator [email protected] Renee Holder Subspecialty Certification Coordinator [email protected] Main office: One Urban Centre, Suite 690 4830 West Kennedy Boulevard Tampa, Florida 33609-2571 Telephone: (813) 286-2444 Fax: (813) 289-5279 http://www.abpath.org Table of Contents MISSION AND PURPOSE ..........................................................................................4 VISION .........................................................................................................................5 VALUES .......................................................................................................................5 POLICIES, PROCEDURES, AND REQUIREMENTS ..................................................6 CERTIFICATION BY THE ABPath ..............................................................................6 I. Granting of a certificate ................................................................................................6 II. Subspecialty Certification. .........................................................................................7 III. Continuing Certification (CC) Program. ...............................................................7 IV. Certification Status. .....................................................................................................7 V. Definitions ........................................................................................................................8 REQUIREMENTS FOR PRIMARY AND SUBSPECIALTY CERTIFICATION.............8 I. UNDERGRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION (UME) ................................................8 A. UME Requirement ....................................................................................................8 B. UME Documents Required with Application .................................................9 II. MEDICAL LICENSURE ...................................................................................................9 A. Licensure Requirements for Primary and Subspecialty Certification ....9 C. Notification of Action against a Medical License .......................................11 III. GRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION (GME) TRAINING REQUIREMENTS ....11 A. General (Primary and Subspecialty Certification) .....................................11 B. Primary Certification .............................................................................................14 1. Combined (AP/CP) Certification ................................................................14 2. Combined AP and Neuropathology (AP/NP) Certification ..............14 3. Anatomic Pathology (AP) Certification ...................................................15 4. Clinical Pathology (CP) Certification ........................................................15 C. Subspecialty Certification ..................................................................................16 1. Requirements for ALL Subspecialty Certifications ................................16 2. Blood Banking/Transfusion Medicine .....................................................17 3. Chemical Pathology .........................................................................................17 4. Clinical Informatics .........................................................................................17 5. Cytopathology .................................................................................................19 6. Dermatopathology ........................................................................................19 7. Forensic Pathology .........................................................................................19 8. Hematopathology ..........................................................................................19 9. Medical Microbiology ...................................................................................20 10. Molecular Genetic Pathology .....................................................................20 11. Neuropathology .............................................................................................20 12. Pediatric Pathology ........................................................................................21 D. Focused Practice Designation ...........................................................................21 2 IV. PHYSICIAN-SCIENTIST RESEARCH PATHWAY ...................................................23 A. Objectives ................................................................................................................23 B. General Requirements .........................................................................................23 V. CANDIDATES WITH DISABILITIES ...........................................................................25 A. Policy .........................................................................................................................25 B. Documentation of Disability ............................................................................25 C. Type of Accommodation ....................................................................................26 D. Examination Accommodation Request Form Deadline .........................26 VI. SUBSTANCE ABUSE OR IMPAIRMENTS ...............................................................27 B. Mental and Physical Impairment. ....................................................................27 VII. EXAMINATIONS .........................................................................................................27 A. Primary Certification ...........................................................................................27 B. Subspecialty Certification..................................................................................28 C. Application .............................................................................................................28 D. Honor Code ............................................................................................................28 E. Fees .............................................................................................................................30 F. Period of Board Eligibility for Examination ...................................................30 G. Reporting of Examination Results to Candidates ......................................31 H. Reporting of Examination Results to Training/Fellowship Programs .32 I. Unsuccessful Candidates .....................................................................................32 J. Examination Scoring .............................................................................................33 VIII. SINGLE CERTIFICATION .........................................................................................34 IX. EXAMINATION DATES/DATE ASSIGNMENTS ....................................................35 A. Location ...................................................................................................................35 B. Posting ......................................................................................................................35 C. Anatomic Pathology and Clinical Pathology Examinations ...................35 D. Subspecialty Examinations ................................................................................35 E. Application Deadlines and Late Applications .............................................36 F. Cancellation of an Examination ........................................................................36 X. CERTIFICATES ...............................................................................................................37 XI. DIPLOMATES RETIRING FROM ACTIVE PRACTICE .........................................39 XII. PUBLIC REPORTING OF CERTIFICATION ...........................................................41 XIII. CONTINUING CERTIFICATION (CC) PROGRAM ..............................................41 XIV. APPEALS PROCEDURES ........................................................................................41 XV. APPENDIX A: Autopsy Requirements ...............................................................44 COOPERATING SOCIETIES OF THE ABPATH ....................................................... 46 ACCREDITATION OF PATHOLOGY TRAINING PROGRAMS .............................. 46 LOGO ........................................................................................................................ 47 ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY ................................................................................ 47 ABPath BOOKLETS ................................................................................................. 48 3 Return to Table of Contents MISSION AND PURPOSE The mission of the American Board of Pathology, a member of the American Board of Medical Specialties, is to serve the public and advance the profession of pathology by setting certification standards and promoting lifelong compe- tency of pathologists. The ABPath accomplishes its mission through the following principal activities: 1. Establishing certification and continuing
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Lessons from the African Teledermatology Project
    Report The role of dermatopathology in conjunction with teledermatology in resource-limited settings: lessons from the African Teledermatology Project Matthew W. Tsang1, MD, MSt, and Carrie L. Kovarik2, MD 1Department of Dermatology, University Abstract of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA, Background Access to dermatology and dermatopathology services is scarce in 2 and, Departments of Dermatology and sub-Saharan Africa. Teledermatology provides consultations for healthcare providers in Internal Medicine, University of resource-limited settings where specialty medical services are difficult to obtain, and the Pennsylvania, Division of Infectious Diseases, Philadelphia, PA, USA African Teledermatology Project has helped to bridge the gap in dermatological care in Africa. This program also allows for biopsy specimens to be sent to the USA for processing Correspondence in cases where the clinical diagnosis is difficult and definitive diagnosis has implications for Carrie Kovarik, MD patient management. This study characterizes conditions diagnosed through clinicopatho- Assistant Professor logical correlation in conjunction with photos and tissue submitted to the African Dermatology, Dermatopathology, and Infectious Diseases Teledermatology Project. University of Pennsylvania Materials and methods Retrospective case review of tissue specimens submitted over 2 Maloney Building three years. 3600 Spruce Street Results Fifty-five biopsy specimens met inclusion criteria and represent cases of Philadelphia, PA 19104 malignancy (35%), infection (7%), suspected infection (15%), lichenoid tissue reaction E-mail: [email protected] (5%), dermatitis (15%), and other various conditions (18%). Three biopsy specimens were Funding sources: None. non-diagnostic (5%). Clinicopathological concordance between submitting clinician and Disclosures: The authors have no biopsy results occurred in 32 out of 55 cases (58%).
    [Show full text]
  • Artificial Intelligence in Dermatopathology
    Review Artificial Intelligence in Dermatopathology: New Insights and Perspectives Gerardo Cazzato 1,* , Anna Colagrande 1, Antonietta Cimmino 1, Francesca Arezzo 2, Vera Loizzi 2 , Concetta Caporusso 1, Marco Marangio 3, Caterina Foti 4, Paolo Romita 4, Lucia Lospalluti 4, Francesco Mazzotta 5, Sebastiano Cicco 6 , Gennaro Cormio 2 , Teresa Lettini 1 , Leonardo Resta 1 , Angelo Vacca 6 and Giuseppe Ingravallo 1,* 1 Section of Pathology, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation (DETO), University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70124 Bari, Italy; [email protected] (A.C.); [email protected] (A.C.); [email protected] (C.C.); [email protected] (T.L.); [email protected] (L.R.) 2 Section of Ginecology and Obstetrics, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70124 Bari, Italy; [email protected] (F.A.); [email protected] (V.L.); [email protected] (G.C.) 3 Section of Informatics, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy; [email protected] 4 Section of Dermatology, Department of Biomedical Science and Human Oncology, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70124 Bari, Italy; [email protected] (C.F.); [email protected] (P.R.); [email protected] (L.L.) 5 Pediatric Dermatology and Surgery Outpatients Department, Azienda Sanitaria Locale Barletta-Andria-Trani, 76123 Andria, Italy; [email protected] 6 Section of Internal Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70124 Bari, Italy; [email protected] (S.C.); [email protected] (A.V.) * Correspondence: [email protected] (G.C.); [email protected] (G.I.) Citation: Cazzato, G.; Colagrande, A.; Abstract: In recent years, an increasing enthusiasm has been observed towards artificial intelligence Cimmino, A.; Arezzo, F.; Loizzi, V.; and machine learning, involving different areas of medicine.
    [Show full text]
  • The Dermatopathology Milestone Project
    The Dermatopathology Milestone Project A Joint Initiative of The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, The American Board of Dermatology, and The American Board of Pathology July 2015 The Dermatopathology Milestone Project The Milestones are designed only for use in evaluation of fellows in the context of their participation in ACGME- accredited residency or fellowship programs. The Milestones provide a framework for the assessment of the development of the fellow in key dimensions of the elements of physician competency in a specialty or subspecialty. They neither represent the entirety of the dimensions of the six domains of physician competency, nor are they designed to be relevant in any other context. i Dermatopathology Milestones Chair: James W. Patterson, MD Working Group Advisory Group Laura Edgar, EdD, CAE C. Bruce Alexander, MD Tammie Ferringer, MD Julia C. Iezzoni, MD Jessica Kozel, MD Rebecca Johnson, MD Mary Stone, MD Wesley Y. Naritoku, MD, PhD Sharon Weiss, MD ii Milestone Reporting This document presents Milestones designed for programs to use in semi-annual review of fellow performance and reporting to the ACGME. Milestones are knowledge, skills, attitudes, and other attributes for each of the ACGME competencies organized in a developmental framework from less to more advanced. They are descriptors and targets for fellow performance as a fellow moves from entry into fellowship through graduation. In the initial years of implementation, the Review Committee will examine Milestone performance data for each program’s fellows as one element in the Next Accreditation System (NAS) to determine whether fellows overall are progressing. For each period, review and reporting will involve selecting milestone levels that best describe each fellow’s current performance and attributes.
    [Show full text]
  • Dermatopathology
    Dermatopathology Clay Cockerell • Martin C. Mihm Jr. • Brian J. Hall Cary Chisholm • Chad Jessup • Margaret Merola With contributions from: Jerad M. Gardner • Talley Whang Dermatopathology Clinicopathological Correlations Clay Cockerell Cary Chisholm Department of Dermatology Department of Pathology and Dermatopathology University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Central Texas Pathology Laboratory Dallas , TX Waco , TX USA USA Martin C. Mihm Jr. Chad Jessup Department of Dermatology Department of Dermatology Brigham and Women’s Hospital Tufts Medical Center Boston , MA Boston , MA USA USA Brian J. Hall Margaret Merola Department of Dermatology Department of Pathology University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Brigham and Women’s Hospital Dallas , TX Boston , MA USA USA With contributions from: Jerad M. Gardner Talley Whang Department of Pathology and Dermatology Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Boston, MA Little Rock, AR USA USA ISBN 978-1-4471-5447-1 ISBN 978-1-4471-5448-8 (eBook) DOI 10.1007/978-1-4471-5448-8 Springer London Heidelberg New York Dordrecht Library of Congress Control Number: 2013956345 © Springer-Verlag London 2014 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifi cally the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfi lms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. Exempted from this legal reservation are brief excerpts in connection with reviews or scholarly analysis or material supplied specifi cally for the purpose of being entered and executed on a computer system, for exclusive use by the purchaser of the work.
    [Show full text]
  • DERMATOPATHOLOGY Resident Training in Dermatopathology
    1 DERMATOPATHOLOGY Resident training in dermatopathology includes a monthly glass slide conference at UMMC and a required one-month rotation at Dermatopathology Associates PLLC, both taught by Drs. Billy Walker and Jennifer Schulmeier, board-certified dermatopathologists. In addition, residents will sign out skin cases with the surgical pathology faculty when rotating on general surgical pathology at UMMC. Elective rotations at the senior level are also available with Drs. Walker and Schulmeier. Objectives for Six General Competencies Skill level 1 1. Patient Care A. Understand proper collection and processing of skin specimens. B. Be familiar with various methods of cutting skin specimens, with particular attention to surgical margins and how to best represent the gross lesion. C. Correlate clinical information with gross/microscopic findings. D. Know circumstances in which the clinician should be contacted for additional information. E. Know when and how to order special stains F. Familiarity with various fixatives G. Know the indications for, and be able to manage, frozen sections on skin specimens. 2. Medical Knowledge A. As part of the monthly unknown skin slide conference, read each chapter in Lever’s Histopathology of the Skin B. Thoroughly evaluate unknown glass slides prior to the monthly conference, to include differential diagnosis, clinical presentation, prognosis, and treatment. C. Recognize and diagnose common skin conditions on skin biopsies D. Recognize a biopsy as representing an uncommon skin condition which might merit subspecialty referral. Obtain consultation from Drs. Walker and Schulmeier E. Discuss the etiology, pathogenesis and treatment of common skin neoplasms, including melanoma, SCC of skin, basal cell carcinoma, etc.
    [Show full text]
  • Collision of Melanoma and Keratoacanthoma
    Case Report Case Report AA WolfWolf in in Sheep’s Sheep’s Clothing: Clothing: Collision Collision of of Melanoma Melanoma and andKeratoacanthoma Keratoacanthoma 1, 1 2 MatthiasMatthias Walther Walther *,1,*, Sandra Sandra Falkvoll Falkvolland 1 and Sebastian Sebastian Leibl Leibl 2 1 1 Skinmed—ClinicSkinmed—Clinic forfor Dermatology,Dermatology, 5000 5000 Aarau, Aarau, Switzerland; Switzerland; [email protected] [email protected] 2 2 Skinpath—Histopathology,Skinpath—Histopathology, 5600 5600 Lenzburg, Lenzburg Switzerland;, Switzerland; [email protected] [email protected] ** Correspondence:Correspondence: [email protected]@skinmed.ch Abstract:Abstract:Collision Collision tumorstumors consistingconsisting ofof melanomamelanoma andand squamoussquamous cellcell carcinomacarcinoma areare veryvery rare.rare. WeWe presentpresent the the casecase ofof aa deceptivedeceptive hyperkeratotichyperkeratotic nodule nodule on onthe theforearm forearm of ofa a 72-year-old72-year-old woman, woman, which which clinicallyclinically appeared appeared to to be be a squamousa squamous cell cell carcinoma, carcinoma, keratoacanthoma keratoacanthoma type. type Histological. Histological examination examina- surprisinglytion surprisingly revealed revealed a coexisting a coexisting epithelioid epithelioid melanoma. melanoma. Thus, this Thus, case this report case shows report the shows importance the im- ofportance an early of histopathological an early histopathological and immunohistochemical and immunohistochemical workup to preventworkup
    [Show full text]
  • 2016 Essentials of Dermatopathology Slide Library Handout Book
    2016 Essentials of Dermatopathology Slide Library Handout Book April 8-10, 2016 JW Marriott Houston Downtown Houston, TX USA CASE #01 -- SLIDE #01 Diagnosis: Nodular fasciitis Case Summary: 12 year old male with a rapidly growing temple mass. Present for 4 weeks. Nodular fasciitis is a self-limited pseudosarcomatous proliferation that may cause clinical alarm due to its rapid growth. It is most common in young adults but occurs across a wide age range. This lesion is typically 3-5 cm and composed of bland fibroblasts and myofibroblasts without significant cytologic atypia arranged in a loose storiform pattern with areas of extravasated red blood cells. Mitoses may be numerous, but atypical mitotic figures are absent. Nodular fasciitis is a benign process, and recurrence is very rare (1%). Recent work has shown that the MYH9-USP6 gene fusion is present in approximately 90% of cases, and molecular techniques to show USP6 gene rearrangement may be a helpful ancillary tool in difficult cases or on small biopsy samples. Weiss SW, Goldblum JR. Enzinger and Weiss’s Soft Tissue Tumors, 5th edition. Mosby Elsevier. 2008. Erickson-Johnson MR, Chou MM, Evers BR, Roth CW, Seys AR, Jin L, Ye Y, Lau AW, Wang X, Oliveira AM. Nodular fasciitis: a novel model of transient neoplasia induced by MYH9-USP6 gene fusion. Lab Invest. 2011 Oct;91(10):1427-33. Amary MF, Ye H, Berisha F, Tirabosco R, Presneau N, Flanagan AM. Detection of USP6 gene rearrangement in nodular fasciitis: an important diagnostic tool. Virchows Arch. 2013 Jul;463(1):97-8. CONTRIBUTED BY KAREN FRITCHIE, MD 1 CASE #02 -- SLIDE #02 Diagnosis: Cellular fibrous histiocytoma Case Summary: 12 year old female with wrist mass.
    [Show full text]
  • Review Article Simulators of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Skin: Diagnostic Challenges on Small Biopsies and Clinicopathological Correlation
    Hindawi Publishing Corporation Journal of Skin Cancer Volume 2013, Article ID 752864, 10 pages http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/752864 Review Article Simulators of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Skin: Diagnostic Challenges on Small Biopsies and Clinicopathological Correlation Kong-Bing Tan,1 Sze-Hwa Tan,1 Derrick Chen-Wee Aw,2 Huma Jaffar,2 Thiam-Chye Lim,3 Shu-Jin Lee,4 and Yoke-Sun Lee1 1 Department of Pathology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Health System, National University of Singapore, Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119074 2 University Medicine Cluster, National University Health System, Singapore 119074 3 University Surgical Cluster, National University Health System, Singapore 119074 4 Departments of Otorhinolaryngology and Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgery, National University Health System, Singapore 119074 Correspondence should be addressed to Kong-Bing Tan; kong bing [email protected] Received 8 May 2013; Revised 30 May 2013; Accepted 30 May 2013 Academic Editor: Giuseppe Argenziano Copyright © 2013 Kong-Bing Tan et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a common and important primary cutaneous malignancy. On skin biopsies, SCC is characterized by significant squamous cell atypia, abnormal keratinization, and invasive features. Diagnostic challenges may occasionally arise, especially in the setting of small punch biopsies or superficial shave biopsies, where only part of the lesion may be assessable by the pathologist. Benign mimics of SCC include pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia, eccrine squamous syringometaplasia, inverted follicular keratosis, and keratoacanthoma, while malignant mimics of SCC include basal cell carcinoma, melanoma, and metastatic carcinoma.
    [Show full text]
  • Dermatopathology
    76A ANNUAL MEETING ABSTRACTS of the nodules aspirated was 1.8 (NNAN), 3.2 (HA), 3.0 (HCa) and 2.9 (PTC). The average numbers of nodules identified by US were 3.3 in NNAN, 2.0 in HA, 1.7 in HCa, Dermatopathology and 1.8 in PTC (p<0.05). Furthermore, 40% (4 of 10) and 20% (2 of 10) of HCa were vascularized and microcalcified on US, respectively; and 50% (7 of 14) of NNAN had 337 CD10 and Ep-CAM Expression in Basal Cell Carcinoma, Classical multiple (5) small nodules in the background thyroid. FNA Findings – the Hurthle cell Trichoepithelioma, and Desmoplastic Trichoepithelioma tumors had more cellular smears, discohesive Hurthle cells, few, if any, lymphocytes, TE Abbott, MD Cole, JW Patterson, MR Wick. University of Virginia Health System, and scarce or absent colloid in comparison to the smears from NNAN. Charlottesville, VA. Conclusions: Dominant thyroid nodules 2 cm or less on US without evidence of Background: The distinction between basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and increased vascularity or microcalcifications in combination with the background trichoepithelioma (TE) has historically been made on the basis of specific histologic thyroid containing multiple (3 or more) smaller nodules and the FNA smears containing criteria, but it may be difficult when the tumor sample is limited. Recent reports have some lymphoid aggregates with Hurthle cells in moderately sized sheets are likely to suggested a utility for CD10 and Ep-CAM immunostaining in recognizing BCC. be benign. Communication between clinician and pathologist correlating US and FNA Accordingly, this study was initiated in order to determine whether those markers findings in difficult cases may avoid unnecessary surgery.
    [Show full text]
  • Dermatopathology Laboratory
    Dermatology Dermatopathology Laboratory Dermatopathology is an essential DERMATOPATHOLOGY TESTING SerVICES component for correct diagnosis and treat- Skin biopsy review ment of skin disorders. Our laboratory offers Professional dermatopathology laboratory services comprehensive microscopic diagnosis for Technical dermatopathology laboratory services nail, hair and skin conditions. Our team con- Consultative review (second opinion) of pathology slides sists of four Board Certified Dermatologists Special stains and Dermatopathologists, Anneli R. Bowen, Immunohistochemistry (extensive list of antibodies) M.D., Keith L. Duffy, M.D., Scott R. Florell, M.D., and David A. Wada, M.D., all of whom ENhaNCED CUStomer SerVICES are trained in clinical dermatology and evaluate patients at the University of Utah Timely reporting Health Care Dermatology Clinics in addition Local courier services and prepaid expedited shipping to interpreting dermatopathology speci- Complimentary test request forms, biopsy fixatives and shipping supplies mens. Their expertise covers a wide range of Laboratory services billing department neoplastic and inflammatory skin diseases. Extensive participating insurance list CONTACT US Our Dermatopathology Laboratory Client Services Office is open from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Mountain Time, Monday – Friday. We will return all calls and inquires received after business hours the next business day. Dermatopathology LABoratory Department of Dermatology, University of Utah Health Care 30 North 1900 East, 4A330 SOM, Salt Lake City, Utah 84132 Phone: (801) 585-0221 Toll-Free: 1-844-988-7284 (1-844-9UU-PATH) University of Utah Dermatopathology Laboratory participates Fax: (801) 581-6484 in the College of American Pathologists (CAP) Laboratory Email: [email protected] Accreditation Program and has Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) certification through the Centers for dermatopathology.uofumedicine.org Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
    [Show full text]
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction-Based Molecular Diagnosis of Cutaneous Infections in Dermatopathology Brian L
    Polymerase Chain Reaction-Based Molecular Diagnosis of Cutaneous Infections in Dermatopathology Brian L. Swick, MD*,† Conventional methods, including microscopy, culture, and serologic studies, are a mainstay in the diagnosis of cutaneous infection. However, owing to limitations associated with these techniques, such as low sensitivity for standard microscopy and in the case of culture delay in diagnosis, polymerase chain-reaction based molecular techniques have taken on an expanding role in the diagnosis of infectious processes in dermatopathology. In particular, these assays are a useful adjunct in the diagnosis of cutaneous tuberculosis, atypical mycobacterial infec- tion, leprosy, Lyme disease, syphilis, rickettsioses, leishmaniasis, and some fungal and viral infections. Already in the case of tuberculosis and atypical mycobacterial infection, standard- ized polymerase chain-reaction assays are commonly used for diagnostic purposes. With time, additional molecular-based techniques will decrease in cost and gain increased standardiza- tion, thus delivering rapid diagnostic confirmation for many difficult-to-diagnose cutaneous infections from standard formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue specimens. Semin Cutan Med Surg 31:241-246 © 2012 Frontline Medical Communications KEYWORDS molecular diagnosis, infections, PCR, polymerase chain reaction, dermatopathol- ogy, dermatology onventional methods for the diagnosis of cutaneous infec- can detect small amounts or DNA or RNA, they can serve to Ction in dermatopathology include those performed directly quickly identify microorganisms that are present in small num- by the dermatopathologist, such as microscopy using histo- bers in a clinical sample, stain poorly with conventional tech- chemical stains and antigen detection using immunohistochem- niques, or are unculturable.2 The application of PCR-based mo- ical (IHC) methods, as well as adjunctive laboratory techniques, lecular techniques to the diagnosis of common infectious including culture and serologic studies.
    [Show full text]
  • Frequently Asked Questions: Dermatopathology Review Committee for Dermatology ACGME
    Frequently Asked Questions: Dermatopathology Review Committee for Dermatology ACGME Question Answer Educational Program How does the Review Committee define “direct inspection” “Direct inspection” refers to the assessment of primary and secondary in reference to diagnosing skin disorders, and in what skin lesions and their distribution on the body surface, resulting in the contexts does the Review Committee expect fellows will generation of a reasonable differential diagnosis and a determination of acquire this experience? the most likely clinical diagnosis. Fellows who are dermatologists should already have acquired this skill. [Program Requirement: IV.A.2.a).(2)] Fellows who are pathologists will have these same experiences, but will spend 50% of eight months of their 12-month fellowship examining patients in a dermatology clinic setting. In the clinic, direct inspection of lesions may be enhanced by techniques such as dermoscopy and Wood's light examination. Direct inspection related to the examination of gross specimens removed from the patient is more limited in scope, but can also provide useful information. This takes place most often in the grossing room, and would probably be encountered more often by dermatology- educated fellows rotating in surgical pathology. Examples include assessments of irregular pigmentation, hemorrhage, or blistering, each of which may prompt a differential diagnosis or considerations about where sectioning of a specimen should be obtained. What does the Review Committee expect as far as a The Review Committee considers examination to include the following fellow’s examination of dermatology patients? that must be done by the fellow: 1. take a history focused on the skin issues; [Program Requirement: IV.A.3.a).(2).(a)] 2.
    [Show full text]