Coming Soon — CAP Foundation Surgical Pathology Case of the Month with Whole Slide Imaging

The College of American Pathologists (CAP) Foundation and CAP Surgical Pathology Committee, in cooperation with Aperio, are pleased to offer select cases from the CAP Performance Improvement Program in Surgical Pathology Program (PIP) archives. This exciting anatomical pathology non-CME educational program is designed to expose those interested in whole slide imaging to select cases presented using advanced developments in and use of information technology for the practice of pathology.

One of the purposes of the program is to explore other ways pathologists can view slide images as a diagnostic modality. Digital pathology using whole slide imaging is a computerized, image-based environment for managing and interpreting information enabled by a whole slide image. It gives pathologists a method of assessing their diagnostic skills through electronic means and comparing their performance with that of their peers. This program is open to CAP members and non-CAP members interested in whole slide imaging.

A selected case from the PIP and/or anatomic archives with a patient history will be posted on a Foundation Web page each month. The participant selects the appropriate diagnosis from a master list of diagnoses provided with each case. An on-line case critique of each case will be provided, including the diagnosis, comments, and references. The cases will represent a variety of neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions, including inflammatory and infectious diseases, and encompass essentially all organ sites.

After completion of the slide review, the participant will:

• Have an increased understanding for the use of digital pathology with whole slide imaging in the practice of pathology.
• Identify lesions from a variety of sites and specimen types.
• Recognize unusual diseases as well as uncommon presentations of common diseases.
• Assess diagnostic skills in surgical pathology.

To evaluate the usefulness of the program, survey questions on ease of comfort to use as a diagnostic tool will be posted on the Web site for participants’ response. An e-mail will be sent to all CAP members when this program is released. Visit the Foundation area of the CAP Web site, and click on Program and Events for more details.

This program is made possible through an unrestricted education grant from Aperio.