USCAP Thorax Revisited 2026

Original release date: January 12, 2026
Accurate diagnosis of pleural disease is crucial to patient care. Pathologists are also increasingly asked to order and interpret molecular testing for lung carcinomas and other pulmonary tumors. Led by expert pathologists, this course will review common diagnostic pitfalls in thoracic pathology, cytology, and immunohistochemistry, along with new cases of mediastinal tumors, pleural tumors, and non-neoplastic lung disease. As molecular testing becomes more mainstream, interpreting these tests for lung carcinomas and other pulmonary tumors is of vital importance. Faculty will discuss issues related to molecular testing with a focus on what to order, when to order, and how to interpret the results. This course will feature lectures and interactive case-based discussions.
Target Audience
Practicing academic and community pathologists, and pathologists-in-training
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this educational activity, learners will be able to:

Understand when molecular testing is needed for thoracic tumors, what tests are appropriate, and how to interpret the results.
Become familiar with morphologic features of various prevascular mediastinal lesions for establishing a reasonable differential diagnosis. Based on that differential diagnosis the participants will learn to apply reasonable small panels of ancillary tests, including immunostains and potentially cytogenetics (especially chromosome 12p alterations for germ cell tumors).
Become familiar with morphologic features of various non neoplastic lung diseases. Cases selected will span the spectrum of cellular and fibrotic interstitial pneumonias, smoking related disease, cystic lung disease, benign lymphoid lesions (and some neoplastic mimics), vascular disease, drug reactions, the lung in systemic disease, and various granulomatous diseases. These cases form the bulk of cases sent to our large consultation practice indicating that pathologists struggle with how to report their findings and to communicate the clinical significance of what they are seeing.
Understand the various types of pleural lesions encountered in everyday practice, their morphologic differential and mimics, and what adjunctive tests are or are not useful in working up such cases.
Gain familiarity with the basics of thoracic cytology (lavage, EBUS, effusion) specimens, understand issues related to specimen preparation, and how and when to apply immunostains or FISH.
Learn efficient use of immunostains for thoracic lesions and learn to recognize problems and misleading results with such stains.

 
+ Topics:

Basics of Molecular Pathology – Yin (Rex) P. Hung, MD, PhD

Mediastinum – Anja C. Roden, MD

IHC Pitfalls – Anja C. Roden, MD

Pleura – Andrew Churg, MD, PhD

Cytology – Andrew Churg, MD, PhD

Gross–Microscopic Correlations in Thoracic Pathology – Anja C. Roden, MD

Non-Neoplastic: Part 1 – Henry D. Tazelaar, MD

Non-Neoplastic: Part 2 – Henry D. Tazelaar, MD

Molecular Testing: Part 1 – Yin (Rex) P. Hung, MD, PhD

Molecular Testing: Part 2 – Yin (Rex) P. Hung, MD, PhD