Skip to Main Navigation Skip to Main Content Skip to Footer
search play2 play3 facebook twitter linkedin2 cross instagram
ASCP
  • DASHBOARD
  • STORE
  • LOGOUT
  • STORE
  • LOGIN
Menu
  • Membership
    • Membership Overview
      • Become a Member
      • Member Testimonials
    • Member Resources
      • My Dashboard
      • Manage My Education
      • Renew My Membership
      • Member Center
      • Find a Mentorship
      • Councils & Committees
      • Volunteer Opportunities
      • Awards & Recognition
      • Member Rewards
      • Lab Week
      • ASCP News
      • ASCP Local Chapters
      • Cell Bowl
    • My Role
      • Pathologist
      • Laboratory Professional
      • Pathology Resident
      • Residency Program Director
      • Lab Sciences Program Director
      • Laboratory Science Student
      • Medical Student
    • Career Resources
      • Find a Job
      • Post a Job
      • Find a Pathology Fellowship
      • Post a Fellowship
      • Learn About Careers
      • Scholarships & Grants
  • Learning
    • Learning Overview
    • Certificate Programs
      • Lab Management University
      • University of Path Informatics
      • Leadership Institute
    • Live Events
      • ASCP Annual Meeting
      • Virtual Pathology Grand Rounds
      • KnowledgeLab
      • Immersion Courses
    • Resources
      • Access My Education
      • Manage CMP
      • Manage CC
    • ASCPedia
    • Online Education
      • Online CE Packages
      • LabQ
      • Case Reports
      • Resident Question Bank (RQB)
      • MLS Online Review Course
      • Webcasts
      • Patient Safety
      • Featured Education
    • Quality Improvement & Quality Assurance
      • Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI)
      • National Pathology Quality Registry (NPQR)
      • CheckPath
      • GYN Assessment
      • Non-GYN Assessment
      • GYN Proficiency Testing
    • Books & Journals
      • Books
      • American Journal of Clinical Pathology (AJCP)
      • Lab Medicine
      • Critical Values
    • ACCME ACCREDITATION
  • Advocacy & Outreach
    • Institute For Science Technology, and Public Policy
      • ASCP Policy Efforts
      • Choosing Wisely
      • Guidelines & Resources
      • Workforce Initiatives
      • ePolicy News
    • Center For Global Health
      • Overview
      • Communicable Diseases (HIV)
      • Non-Communicable Diseases (Cancer)
      • Volunteer with CGH
    • ASCP Foundation
      • Make a Donation
      • Providing Scholarships, Grants, & Fellowships
      • Improving Global Health
      • Increasing Lab Visibility
      • ASCP General Fund
      • Ways to Donate
    • Get Involved
      • Discover Opportunities to Get Involved
      • Foster Diversity & Inclusion
      • ASCP Councils & Committees
      • Career Ambassadors
      • Pathology Ambassadors
      • Discover Mentorships
      • Apply to Volunteer
    • Laboratory Excellence
      • Leading Laboratories
      • National Pathology Quality Registry (NPQR)
      • Awards & Recognition
      • Lab Week
    • Patient Champions
  • About ASCP
    • About ASCP
      • ASCP Mission
      • Supporting Our Members
      • ASCP Foundation
      • Community Efforts
      • Work at ASCP
    • Contact Us
  • Board of Certification
    • BOC home
    • About The BOC
      • About the BOC
        • BOC Structure
          • BOC Mission
          • BOC Partners
          • Contact BOC
          • Appeals
        • News and Reports
          • Transition of MT/MLS and MP/MB
          • Newsletters
          • BOC Awards
          • Lab Hero Interviews
          • Statistics / Practice Analyses
      • What We Do
        • Our Services
          • Certs & Quals
          • CMP
          • Verify Credentials
      • Governance
        • Committees
          • Exam Committee
          • Board of Governors
        • International Governance
          • Advisory Boards
          • Collaborating Societies
      • Volunteer
        • Volunteer Opportunities
          • Exam Committees
          • International Volunteer Opportunities
          • ASCP
    • Get Credentialed
      • Certification Exam Process
        • Get Ready to Apply
          • General Information
          • Determine Category & Route
          • Compare US & International Certification
        • Gather Documentation
          • US Certification
          • International Certication
          • US Military
        • Before Exam
          • Schedule a Date
          • Study Materials
        • Exam Day
          • The Test Center
          • The Examination
        • After Exam
          • Pass The Exam
          • Fail The Exam
      • U.S. Certifications
        • Highest Volume
          • Histotechnician, HT(ASCP)
          • Medical Laboratory Scientist, MLS(ASCP)
          • Medical Laboratory Technician, MLT(ASCP)
          • Phlebotomy Technician, PBT(ASCP)
        • Technician
          • Histotechnician, HT(ASCP)
          • Medical Laboratory Assistant, MLA(ASCP)
          • Medical Laboratory Technician, MLT(ASCP)
          • Phlebotomy Technician, PBT(ASCP)
          • Donor Phlebotomy Technician, DPT(ASCP)
        • Technologist/Scientists
          • Technologist in Blood Banking, BB(ASCP)
          • Technologist in Chemistry, C(ASCP)
          • Technologist in Cytogenetics, CG(ASCP)
          • Cytologist, CT(ASCP)
          • Technologist in Hematology, H(ASCP)
          • Histotechnologist, HTL(ASCP)
          • Technologist in Microbiology, M(ASCP)
          • Technologist in Molecular Biology, MB(ASCP)
          • Medical Laboratory Scientist, MLS(ASCP)
        • Specialist
          • Specialist in Blood Banking, SBB(ASCP)
          • Specialist in Chemistry, SC(ASCP)
          • Specialist in Cytology, SCT(ASCP)
          • Specialist in Cytometry, SCYM(ASCP)
          • Specialist in Hematology, SH(ASCP)
          • Specialist in Microbiology, SM(ASCP)
          • Specialist in Molecular Biology, SMB(ASCP)
        • Additional
          • Diplomate in Laboratory Management, DLM(ASCP)
          • Pathologists’ Assistant, PA(ASCP)
          • Diplomate in Medical Laboratory Immunology, DMLI(ASCP)
      • International Certifications
        • Highest Volume
          • International Technologist in Molecular Biology, MB(ASCPi)
          • International Medical Laboratory Scientist, MLS(ASCPi)
          • International Medical Laboratory Technician, MLT(ASCPi)
          • International Phlebotomy Technician, PBT(ASCPi)
        • Technician
          • International Histotechnician, HT(ASCPi)
          • International Medical Laboratory Technician, MLT(ASCPi)
          • International Phlebotomy Technician, PBT(ASCPi)
        • Technologist/Scientists
          • International Technologist in Blood Banking, BB(ASCPi)
          • International Technologist in Molecular Biology, MB(ASCPi)
          • International Medical Laboratory Scientist, MLS(ASCPi)
          • International Technologist in Chemistry, C(ASCPi)
          • International Technologist in Cytogenetics, CG(ASCPi)
          • Científico de Laboratorio Médico Internacional, CLM(ASCPi)
          • International Cytologist, CT(ASCPi)
          • International Gynecologic Cytologist, CTgyn(ASCPi)
          • International Technologist in Hematology, H(ASCPi)
          • International Histotechnologist, HTL(ASCPi)
          • International Technologist in Microbiology, M(ASCPi)
        • Specialist
          • International Specialist in Blood Banking, SBB(ASCPi)
          • International Specialist in Chemistry, SC(ASCPi)
          • International Specialist in Cytology, SCT(ASCPi)
          • International Specialist in Cytometry, SCYM(ASCPi)
          • International Specialist in Hematology, SH(ASCPi)
          • International Specialist in Microbiology, SM(ASCPi)
          • International Specialist in Molecular Biology, SMB(ASCPi)
      • Qualifications
        • Get Ready to Apply
          • General Information
          • Determine Category and Exam Route
          • Gather Document
        • Examination
          • Take the Exam
          • Pass the Exam
          • Fail the Exam
        • Qualifications
          • Qualification in Biorepository Science, QBRS
          • Qualification in Donor Phlebotomy, QDP
          • Qualification in Apheresis, QIA
          • Qualification in Immunohistochemistry, QIHC
          • Qualification in Laboratory Safety, QLS
      • State Licensure
        • California State Licensure
          • California State Licensure Only
          • ASCP Certification & CA Licensure
          • Already ASCP Certified
        • New York State Licensure
          • New York State Licensure Only
          • ASCP Certification & NY Licensure
          • Already ASCP Certified
        • Additional Licensure States
          • Florida
          • Hawaii
          • Louisiana
          • Montana
          • Nevada
          • North Dakota
          • Tennesee
          • West Virginia
          • Puerto Rico
    • Stay Credentialed
      • Information About CMP
        • CMP Overview
          • CMP Process
          • Synchronize Multiple Credentials
        • Credential Status
          • Mandatory
          • Voluntary
          • Expired
          • Inactive
        • How to Manage Points
          • How to Earn Points
          • How to Record Points
          • Suggested CE Providers
          • When to Submit a Declaration
          • COVID Related CE Form
      • U.S. Certifications
        • Highest Volume
          • Histotechnician, HT(ASCP)
          • Medical Laboratory Scientist, MLS(ASCP)
          • Medical Laboratory Technician, MLT(ASCP)
          • Phlebotomy Technician, PBT(ASCP)
        • Technician
          • Histotechnician, HT(ASCP)
          • Medical Laboratory Assistant, MLA(ASCP)
          • Medical Laboratory Technician, MLT(ASCP)
          • Phlebotomy Technician, PBT(ASCP)
          • Apheresis Technician, AT(ASCP)
          • Donor Phlebotomy Technician, DPT(ASCP)
        • Technologist/Scientists
          • Technologist in Blood Banking, BB(ASCP)
          • Technologist in Chemistry, C(ASCP)
          • Technologist in Cytogenetics, CG(ASCP)
          • Cytologist, CT(ASCP)
          • Technologist in Hematology, H(ASCP)
          • Histotechnologist, HTL(ASCP)
          • Technologist in Microbiology, M(ASCP)
          • Technologist in Molecular Biology, MB(ASCP)
          • Medical Laboratory Scientist, MLS(ASCP)
        • Specialist
          • Specialist in Blood Banking, SBB(ASCP)
          • Specialist in Chemistry, SC(ASCP)
          • Specialist in Cytology, SCT(ASCP)
          • Specialist in Cytometry, SCYM(ASCP)
          • Specialist in Hematology, SH(ASCP)
          • Specialist in Microbiology, SM(ASCP)
          • Specialist in Molecular Biology, SMB(ASCP)
          • Hemapheresis Practioner, HP(ASCP)
          • Specialist in Laboratory Safety, SLS(ASCP)
          • Specialist in Virology, SV(ASCP)
        • Additional
          • Diplomate in Laboratory Management, DLM(ASCP)
          • Pathologists’ Assistant, PA(ASCP)
      • International Certifications
        • Highest Volume
          • International Technologist in Molecular Biology, MB(ASCPi)
          • International Medical Laboratory Scientist, MLS(ASCPi)
          • International Medical Laboratory Technician, MLT(ASCPi)
          • International Phlebotomy Technician, PBT(ASCPi)
        • Technician
          • International Histotechnician, HT(ASCPi)
          • International Medical Laboratory Technician, MLT(ASCPi)
          • International Phlebotomy Technician, PBT(ASCPi)
        • Technologist/Scientists
          • International Technologist in Blood Banking, BB(ASCPi)
          • International Technologist in Chemistry, C(ASCPi)
          • International Technologist in Cytogenetics, CG(ASCPi)
          • Científico de Laboratorio Médico Internacional, CLM(ASCPi)
          • International Cytologist, CT(ASCPi)
          • International Gynecologic Cytologist, CTgyn(ASCPi)
          • International Technologist in Hematology, H(ASCPi)
          • International Histotechnologist, HTL(ASCPi)
          • International Technologist in Microbiology, M(ASCPi)
          • International Technologist in Molecular Biology, MB(ASCPi)
          • International Medical Laboratory Scientist, MLS(ASCPi)
        • Specialist
          • International Specialist in Blood Banking, SBB(ASCPi)
          • International Specialist in Chemistry, SC(ASCPi)
          • International Specialist in Cytology, SCT(ASCPi)
          • International Specialist in Cytometry, SCYM(ASCPi)
          • International Specialist in Hematology, SH(ASCPi)
          • International Specialist in Microbiology, SM(ASCPi)
          • International Specialist in Molecular Biology, SMB(ASCPi)
      • Qualifications
        • Qualifications
          • Qualification in Biorepository Science, QBRS
          • Qualification in Donor Phlebotomy, QDP
          • Qualification in Apheresis, QIA
          • Qualification in Immunohistochemistry, QIHC
          • Qualification in Lab Informatics, QLI
          • Qualification in Laboratory Safety, QLS
    • Verify Credentials
      • General Information
        • Topics
          • Citation of Credentials
          • Fraudulent Use of Credentials
          • Replacement Wall Certificates
      • How to Verify
        • Options for Verifying Credentials
          • Getting Started
          • For Certification/Qualification
          • For State Licensure
          • For Visa Screen
          • Place an Order
    • Program Directors
      • Program Director Resources
        • Resources
          • BOC Resources
          • Accreditation Agencies
      • Manage Your Students
        • Tools & Reports
          • Tools for Students
          • EEV
          • PPR
      • Certification Information
        • Exams Offered
          • Certification Exams
          • HT/HTL
          • Military Certifications
          • Phlebotomy Programs
  • News
  • News
  • News Archive
  • Groups
  • Jobs
  • ASCP
  • News Archive
  • News Detail

ASCP 2018: Broad Differentials, Tiny Specimens

Publication Date: Sep 4, 2018

By John B. Wojcik, MD, PhD, FASCP, and John S. J. Brooks, MD, MASCP

Soft tissue pathology tumors can produce substantial anxiety for the non-subspecialist. We know this from the examination of our own consultation and outside referral services. This is a function of the unfamiliarity of soft tissue tumors, the broad differential diagnoses and the significant morphologic overlap between entities. Moreover, when such differential diagnoses contain both benign and malignant entities, the general surgical pathologist is wise to seek expert consultation since the ramifications of a misdiagnosis can be significant. All of these challenges are heightened with limited tissue sampling.

Small biopsies also force pathologists to be judicious in the workup of such tumors. In many centers, the core biopsy represents the first and perhaps only opportunity for tissue diagnosis. Benign entities may not be excised at all, and sarcomas, particularly of the extremities, are increasingly subject to neoadjuvant therapy, such that they may no longer be recognizable at the time of resection. Since diagnosis may require numerous ancillary tests, including immunohistochemical and molecular studies, it is necessary to develop a thoughtful approach, rooted in histomorphology and clinical information, to make the most of the tissue available.

In our ASCP 2018 Annual Meeting session, Doing More with Less: Developing an Approach to Needle Core Biopsies of Soft Tissue Lesions, on Oct. 3, Jack Brooks, MD, MASCP, and I will take a case-based approach to these challenging tumors, emphasizing our thought process as we encounter individual cases. We discuss the importance of clinical information gathering, as well as the appropriate application and interpretation of tests remains rooted in the morphologic differential diagnosis.

We are excited to reprise this session after receiving positive feedback last year. On a personal level, it is a pleasure to be able to join my mentor, Jack Brooks, to discuss these cases. It brings back fond memories of sitting across the scope from him during fellowship. I often find myself drawing on his morphologic descriptions and terminology as I explain my thought process to our residents and fellows. I think all attendees will gain from his wealth of experience and subtle observations, and may just find themselves borrowing certain turns of phrase in their own discussions with colleagues.

To learn about the ASCP 2018 Annual Meeting’s more than 250 hours of cutting edge education, click here.

John B. Wojcik, MD, PhD, FASCP, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine. John S. J. Brooks, MD, MASCP, is a Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, and is chair of the Department of Pathology, Pennsylvania Hospital. They will co-present the session, Doing More with Less: Developing an Approach to Needle Core Biopsies of Soft Tissue Lesions, on Oct. 3, at 2:40 p.m. during the ASCP 2018 Annual Meeting.

Footer
  • Membership
    • Membership Overview
    • Member Resources
    • My Role
    • Career Resources
  • Learning
    • Online Education
    • Certificate Programs
    • Quality Improvement & Quality Assurance
    • Live Events
    • Books & Journals
    • Resources
    • ASCPedia
    • ACCME Accreditation
    • Featured Education
  • Advocacy & Outreach
    • Institute for Science, Technology, and Public Policy
    • Center for Global Health
    • ASCP Foundation
    • Patient Champions
    • Get Involved
  • About ASCP
    • Contact Us
    • Chat with Us
  • Board Of Certification
    • Get Credentialed
    • Stay Credentialed
    • Verify Credentials
    • Program Directors
    • About the BOC
  • News
    • ePolicy News
Chicago (Headquarters)
33 West Monroe Street, Suite 1600, Chicago, IL 60603

Privacy Policy 

Terms of Use

Follow Us

Copyright ©2021  by American Society for Clinical Pathology. All Rights Reserved.

Live Chat

First Name*
Last Name*
Email*
Customer ID