Mediastinal Pathology: Enhancing Your Knowledge and Expertise

Mediastinal pathology presents a unique set of challenges in surgical pathology, primarily due to its focus on the thymus gland, which involutes with age and requires a distinct approach to diagnosis and treatment. The rarity of mediastinal tumors further complicates the development of expertise among individual pathologists and their institutions.

In recent years, new classification and staging schemas have been introduced, posing a novel challenge for pathologists assessing mediastinal lesions. It is essential for practicing pathologists to stay updated on these new modalities, which significantly impact treatment options and clinical outcomes. Furthermore, becoming familiar with the diverse range of tumors that can occur in the mediastinal compartment is crucial for optimal patient care.

Target Audience

This course is designed for practicing academic and community pathologists, as well as pathologists-in-training, seeking to expand their knowledge and skills in mediastinal pathology.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this educational activity, learners will be able to:

• Enhance their understanding of mediastinal pathology in general
• Determine the key features required to separate common thymic tumors
• Become familiar with different staging schemas and nomenclatures
• Identify cases that require further work-up with immunohistochemistry or molecular techniques

Course Topics

This comprehensive course covers a range of topics, including:

• Histological Classification and Staging of Thymic Epithelial Neoplasms
• Case Discussion: Thymic Epithelial Neoplasms
• Interpretation of Mediastinal Biopsies
• Case Discussion: Uncommon Tumors of the Mediastinum
• Case Discussion: Lymphoid Tumors of the Mediastinum
• Mediastinal Germ Cell Tumors
• Case Discussion: Germ Cell Tumors

By participating in this course, learners will have the unique opportunity to engage in a tutorial led by an internationally recognized expert from MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Original release date: November 20, 2023