Postgraduate Course Diagnostic Breast Pathology

During the course, the participants will be able to review at least 60 cases dealing with a variety of benign and malignant breast neoplasms and tumor-like lesions. Several common diagnostic problems including papillary neoplasms, intraductal proliferative lesions, variants of ductal and lobular intraepithelial neoplasias, and infiltrating carcinomas are included.

On each day, at least 20 cases will be reviewed by the participants using conventional (on-site) microscopy. All cases will be extensively discussed by the faculty members using an interactive approach (live microscopic presentation of the cases). Particular attention will be paid to the diagnostic criteria with systematic analysis of differential diagnoses. Value and limitations of immunohistochemistry and molecular-genetic tools will be demonstrated and critically discussed. A comprehensive review and update of histopathology with discussion of clinical significance of benign, intraepithelial, and malignant tumors of the breast will be provided. In addition to the case discussion, several lectures by experts in pathology, medical oncology, and surgery will be provided.

After the course, the participants will have access for four weeks to review all digitized cases via internet. Prior to the course, however, there is no internet access to the selected cases.