6/25/2013 Understanding Tissue of Origin Testing: Utility, Basis, and Interpretation #8724

This presentation will briefly address the pitfalls of a cancer diagnosis of uncertain origin. We will emphasize the consequences to patients attempting to make treatment decisions with physicians while navigating a changing health insurance terrain. Pathologists and other health care professionals will learn the appropriate use of tissue of origin testing, a new, increasingly popular technology for difficult cases. The rational use of this testing and the utility of the information obtained, including its effect on outcome and therapeutic guidance in various settings, will be discussed. We will describe the nonproprietary aspects of the technology in detail and review the molecular basis of the test. Nuances of interpretation will be considered, and the most commonly asked questions from clinical staff will be answered.