USCAP, 201 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite 301, Palm Springs, CA (2025)

09/26/2025

USCAP is calling on pathologists whose research, publications, and service, have shaped the field. Applications for the 2026 Honors Awards close in just one month—don’t wait to put your name (or a colleague’s) forward!

Each year, these awards celebrate excellence across our profession. Be sure to submit before the deadline for your chance to be honored at the 2026 USCAP Annual Meeting.

uscap.org/honors

09/22/2025

Our first course of the fall is nearly here - a collaboration with GIPS, Oct. 8-10. https://my.uscap.org/app/program/8ZN8rCu/index.cfm

During this hands-on, case-based, slide microscopy course, we will review the newest diagnostic and classification updates of tubular GI neoplasms, including changes coming up in the new WHO blue book (6th edition) to be published in early 2026, with some of its actual editors and authors!

Here is a sample case from course director Dr. Alexandros D. Polydorides.

Clinical history: 45 M for screening colonoscopy, with a large “flat” polyp in the ascending colon removed by EMR.

Diagnosis: Sessile serrated lesion (SSL) with small focus of well-differentiated adenocarcinoma.

Description: Lesion (polyp) with non-dysplastic serrated epithelium extending to architecturally distorted crypts (horizontally dilated, flat, anchor- or L/boot-shaped) and small focus of very well differentiated glands invading through the muscularis mucosae with associated early desmoplastic stromal reaction.

09/18/2025

Consider this your gentle reminder that the deadline for abstract submissions for our 2026 Annual Meeting is Tuesday, Oct. 7 at 11 am Pacific.

uscap.org/abstracts

09/04/2025

Dr. Anja C. Roden from Mayo Clinic shared this case from our upcoming October Thorax course (https://my.uscap.org/app/program/UPAOsM0/index.cfm)

This 53-year-old woman was found to have a 3.6 cm metabolically active mass in the right upper lung along the mediastinum during workup for coronary artery disease. Imaging studies also revealed pleural nodules in the right upper and lower lobe lung.

Diagnosis: Thymoma.

Sheets of polygonal tumor cells (A) with focal clusters and scattered small lymphocytes (C) and focal band-like fibrosis (low power picture in case stem) are seen. The tumor cells have a fair amount of cytoplasm and large nuclei some with conspicuous nucleoli. Perivascular spaces are present (A, arrow). No increased mitotic activity or necrosis are apparent. The morphologic features are suggestive of thymoma which is further supported by the diffuse expression of p40 (B) and pankeratin (not shown) by the neoplastic cells and expression of TdT (D) by thymocytes.

Although the morphological features are suggestive of a B3 thymoma, thymomas are usually not subtyped on small biopsies because of their potential heterogeneity. Given that the patient had multiple pleural-based nodules, this may represent a thymoma with pleural metastases (“implants”).

The differential diagnosis includes carcinoma. The absence of desmoplasia, the presence of perivascular spaces, and, while not entirely sensitive, the lack of expression of CD5 and CD117 argue against carcinoma and are further suggestive of thymoma.

References:

WHO Classification of Tumours Editorial Board. Thoracic tumours. Lyon (France): International Agency for Research on Cancer; 2021. (WHO classification of tumours series, 5th ed.; vol. 5). https://publications.iarc.fr/595.

Angirekula M et al. CD117, BAP1, MTAP, and TdT Is a Useful Immunohistochemical Panel to Distinguish Thymoma from Thymic Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel). 2022;14(9):2299.

08/27/2025

Here's a case from Dr. Philipp W. Raess from our upcoming Challenges in Hematopathology course: https://tinyurl.com/hemechal

History: 75 year old presenting with cytopenias. WBC 7.9 with absolute lymphocytosis of 6.2 10*3/uL and neutropenia of 0.9 10*3/uL, normocytic anemia at 9.5g/dL, and normal platelets.

Flow cytometry shows 75% of lymphocytes to be NK cells with expression of CD2, CD7, and CD16, with loss of CD56 expression and absent KIR isoform expression (not shown).

Molecular: STAT3 p.D661V pathogenic activating mutation at 28% VAF

Diagnosis: NK-large granular lymphocytic leukemia, also known as chronic lymphoproliferative disorder of NK cells.

Discussion: While most patients are asymptomatic, NK-large granular lymphyocytic leukemia (chronic lymphoproliferative disorder of NK cells) can cause neutropenia and anemia. It typically presents in older adults and is part of the differential encountered during workup of cytopenias. CD56, which is expressed on normal/non-neoplastic NK cells, is negative in up to half of cases.

08/21/2025

Dr. John R. Goodlad shared this case which he'll be presenting at our October Hematopathology course in Palm Springs: https://my.uscap.org/app/program/TweqJw2/index.cfm?pgid=5306

Male aged 12 years presents with hypopigmented patches on back

Histology: Epidermotropic infiltrate of CD8 positive T-cells

Diagnosis: Mycosis Fungoides (CD8-positive)

Discussion: Neoplastic lymphocytes in the majority of mycosis fungoides (MF) cases are CD4 positive. However, in a proportion of cases, such as the one shown here, the T-cells express CD8 rather than CD4. CD8 positive MF is associated with young age and early stage at presentation. It has a favorable prognosis with a higher rate of remission and lower rate of progression than unselected cases of MF. Clinical-pathological correlation is essential in order to differentiate from other epidermotropic cytotoxic T-cell lymphomas that exhibit much more aggressive behavior, principally primary cutaneous CD8 positive aggressive epidermotropic cytotoxic T-cell lymphoma and some cases of primary cutaneous gamma-delta T-cell lymphoma.

08/20/2025

Celebrate Excellence. Elevate Pathology.

Each year, USCAP honors pathologists who advance our profession through groundbreaking research, impactful publications, and dedicated service. Apply or nominate someone for Honors by 10/22.

Find out more:
https://mailchi.mp/uscap/honors2026open

08/18/2025

Many thanks to Course Co-Director Dr. Henry D. Tazelaar for sharing this fascinating case from our upcoming Thorax Revisited course (https://tinyurl.com/25thorax)

History: The patient is a 34 year old woman with cough. She was found to have upper lobe cystic lung disease associated with small nodules and underwent cryobiopsy.

Diagnosis: Langerhans cell histiocytosis.

Discussion: The cryobiopsy shows the presence of at least 3 good sized fragments of lung parenchyma characterized by interstitial thickening. There is some interstitial fibrosis, but also increased cellularity in the walls. On high power, many of the cells have irregular nuclear outlines and groves consistent with Langerhans cells. This is Langerhans cell histiocytosis, which is diagnosable on a cryobiopsy. It is often associated with cysts radiographically.

08/15/2025

Course Director Dr. Anamarija Perry shared this case from her upcoming Challenges in Hematopathology course in USCAP's Interactive Learning Center this October: https://my.uscap.org/app/program/TweqJw2/index.cfm

Clinical history:
44-year-old with inguinal lymphadenopathy

Images:
Figure 1-3: H&E
Figure 4: Spirochete immunohistochemical stain

Diagnosis:
Syphilitic lymphadenitis

Description:
Syphilitic lymphadenitis can be a challenging diagnosis to make, but some histologic features, demonstrated in this case, should make a pathologist think of syphilis. This lymph node shows markedly thickened capsule infiltrated with small lymphocytes and plasma cells, with focal vasculitis, as shown in the images. Lymph node parenchyma also shows plasma cell-rich inflammatory infiltrate within a fascicular to storiform arrangement of spindle cells and collagen fibers. Immunohistochemical stain demonstrates numerous spirochetes.

08/12/2025

The abstract submissions site opened this morning for the 2026 Annual Meeting! There are 5 new categories to check out as well as all of the usual ones.

Take the opportunity to be part of this amazing meeting - uscap.org/abstracts

08/12/2025

Course Director Dr. Alexandros D. Polydorides provided this quick case overview for us.

https://my.uscap.org/app/program/8ZN8rCu/index.cfm

Clinical history: 67 F with prior appendectomy, now presenting with an implant in the mesentery of the jejunum.

Diagnosis: Metastatic goblet cell adenocarcinoma.

Description: Amphicrine carcinoma with intimately admixed tumor cells exhibiting both goblet cell-like intracytoplasmic mucin and varying degrees of neuroendocrine differentiation. IHC was positive for CK20, CDX2, and focally Synaptophysin. Prior specimen (appendix) was confirmatory.

08/07/2025

We're pleased to announce that the recently released 2024 Impact Factors indicate that Modern Pathology (Impact Factor 5.5) and Laboratory Investigation (Impact Factor 4.2) are among the leaders in the field, each placing in the top ten of pathology journals worldwide.

https://tinyurl.com/2025ImpactFactors

USCAP

09/26/2025

09/22/2025

09/18/2025

09/04/2025

08/27/2025

08/21/2025

08/20/2025

08/18/2025

08/15/2025

08/12/2025

08/12/2025

08/07/2025

Address

Website

Alerts

Contact The Practice

Shortcuts

Share

Category