The impact of Pathology Outreach Program (POP) on United States and Canadian high school students.

Given recent trends in National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) data, there exists a looming deficit of practicing pathologists. As such, the Pathology Outreach Program (POP) was established in 2018 in the United States, and in 2022 in Canada, to educate high school students about pathology and laboratory medicine to help curb this projected shortage. We present survey data gathered from several educational sessions hosted at high schools in the United States (U.S.) and Canada over a 5-year period comparing participants' perceptions and awareness of pathology both before and after each session. Using this data, we wish to highlight the positive impact of POP on increasing students' awareness and appreciation for careers in pathology or laboratory medicine. This data will also highlight the additional work that must be done to further boost public knowledge of laboratory medicine's contributions to patient care. We hope this project will lay the foundation for further improvements to laboratory visibility and inspire additional outreach efforts to mitigate a future workforce shortage.

The utility of SOX10 in mixed type desmoplastic melanoma with lymph node metastasis of the spindle cell component: A cautionary tale of inattentional blindness.

Desmoplastic melanoma (DM), a type of spindle cell melanoma separated into pure desmoplastic melanoma (PDM) and mixed desmoplastic melanoma (MDM) subtypes, can be a diagnostic challenge and easily confused for dermal scar, especially PDM. We report a 65-year-old white man who received a left thumb amputation after an initial biopsy for melanoma, an unclassified type with epithelioid morphology. The amputation and sentinel lymph node specimens were significant for residual melanoma with epithelioid morphology, dermal scar, and a slightly expanded "scar-like" capsular area in one of seven lymph nodes, which was diffusely positive for SOX10 on reflex sentinel lymph node immunohistochemical protocol. On re-review of the amputation "scar" like area, a subsequent SOX10 stain confirmed the diagnosis of MDM in this area with epithelioid and spindle cell morphology, significantly upgrading the tumor stage. We share this case to highlight: (i) MDM, although exceptionally uncommon, can result in a pure spindle cell lymph node metastasis, (ii) to encourage increased utilization of SOX10 to assess sentinel lymph node biopsies, especially in the context of melanomas with a spindle cell component, and (iii) share an example of inattentional blindness which was fortunately identified by reflex sentinel lymph node immunohistochemical protocols.

Eccrine Porocarcinoma of the Vulva With Sarcomatoid Transformation, a New Human Papillomavirus-associated Malignancy? Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Eccrine porocarcinoma is a rare cutaneous neoplasm, and rarer still in the anogenital region. In the vulva, the most common carcinoma by far is squamous cell carcinoma; however, eccrine porocarcinoma can arise at this site. As the distinction between porocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma has important prognostic implications at other cutaneous sites, it stands to reason that it may have these same implications in the vulva. We present a case of an eccrine porocarcinoma in the vulva of a 70-year-old woman that, in addition, showed sarcomatoid transformation. This tumor harbored human papillomavirus-18 DNA and mRNA, raising the question of the role of the oncogenic virus in sweat gland neoplasms of the vulva.

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans with platelet-derived growth factor-D rearrangement; two cases with morphologically distinct presentations.

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a mesenchymal neoplasm that is usually located in the dermis or subcutis and is locally aggressive. Rarely, these lesions may undergo fibrosarcomatous transformation, which is thought to increase their metastatic potential. DFSP is classically associated with a 17;22 translocation (or ring chromosome thereof) resulting in fusion of the COL1A1 and PDGFB genes. However, variant fusions involving PDGFD have been recently reported. Herein, we present two morphologically diverse cases of DFSP with PDGFD rearrangement. Case 1 is a 68-year-old female with a left dorsal foot lesion. Morphologically, the lesion is unusual as it is a well-circumscribed, hypercellular, subcutaneous nodule with uniform CD34-positive spindle cells arranged in a herringbone pattern without storiform arrangement or "honeycombing" fat entrapment. It was diagnosed as pure fibrosarcomatous DFSP. Case 2 is a 37-year-old male with a right supra-auricular lesion. Morphologically, the lesion displays classic DFSP features including bland CD34-positive spindle cells with storiform growth, fat entrapment, and infiltrative borders. Both lesions were negative for COL1A1-PDGFB fusion but positive for PDGFD rearrangement by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis. FISH testing for PDGFD rearrangement should be performed in cases where there is a high suspicion for DFSP but initial studies for COL1A1-PDGFB are negative.

Progressive Nodular Histiocytosis: Report of a Case and Review of the Literature.

Progressive nodular histiocytosis (PNH) is a rare condition characterized by progressive eruption of multiple yellowish-brown papules and nodules on the skin and mucous membranes. We present the case of a 37-year-old Caucasian man with gradually increased appearance of nodular lesions on the forehead and right temple. These lesions were initially diagnosed as xanthomas and did not respond to intralesional injections of triamcinolone. Additional biopsy revealed an intense dermal infiltrate of foamy mononuclear epithelioid cells with a minor admixture of plasma cells, lymphocytes, and scattered multinucleated giant cells. On immunohistochemical staining, the lesional cells were positive for CD163 and CD68 and negative for CD1a, thus confirming a mononuclear-macrophage lineage. The clinical presentation and the histological impression lead to the diagnosis of PNH. This condition could be challenging, mimicking microscopically similar lesions of the non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis group. Although uncommon, PNH stands out due to its clinical and microscopic features and should be taken into consideration in the differential diagnosis of cutaneous histiocytoses.

Sweet Syndrome precipitated by Mycobacterium abscessus in a Laotian Man with Autoantibodies to Interferon Gamma.

Autoantibodies to interferon γ, part of the first line of defense in the human immune response, constitutes a rare form of an acquired immunodeficiency in HIV-uninfected adults that can predispose to disseminated atypical mycobacterial infection. Particularly, this has been described in people of Southeast Asian origin. In this case report, we describe a previously healthy, Laotian man who presented with skin lesions consistent with Sweet syndrome that were later found to be precipitated by disseminated atypical mycobacterial disease. Extensive immunological workup revealed the patient to have autoantibodies to interferon γ, rendering him susceptible to this infection. Our report demonstrates a complex case with a multilayered diagnosis, while inviting perspective from multiple specialties. This enigmatic case emphasizes the importance of a broad differential with special attention to demographics while demonstrating the difficulty in treating certain atypical infections that are inherently multidrug resistant.

Lichenoid dermatoses involving the vulva: A clinical-pathologic correlation✰.

The lichenoid tissue reaction pattern generally signifies cytotoxic damage to the epithelium. When such reaction pattern occurs on vulvar skin or mucosa, the effects can result in considerable morbidity. None of the entities discussed in this review are entirely unique to the vulva, however, some entities may classically occur at this site, while others tend to be widespread diseases that may incidentally affect vulvar skin and mucosa. Given the complex anatomy of the vulva and the bridging of a site showing both keratinizing squamous epithelium and non-keratinizing squamous mucosa, histopathologic features may display variation in presentation. Although identification of a "lichenoid reaction pattern" alone may provide insight into the disease process, understanding of clinical presentation and specific sites of involvement, along with recognition of the nuanced features of the disease entities can help establish a specific diagnosis. Accurate histopathologic diagnoses by pathologists can improve the ability for treating clinicians to implement timely and effective treatment.

Consecutive Immunohistochemical Staining on a Single Slide is Effective in Confirming Melanocytic Derivation.

BACKGROUND: Metastatic melanoma in sentinel lymph nodes is often elusive to detect with morphology alone. Per American Joint Committee on Cancer staging guidelines, a single atypical melanocyte in lymph node qualifies as metastasis, whether identified by morphology or immunohistochemistry, but single cell staining must be convincing. We propose that the use of a second immunohistochemical run performed on a single slide will allow for more confident diagnosis of micrometastases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We designed a technical study to determine whether a second antibody application on previously stained slides can successfully detect the same population of cells. Melanocytic neoplasms were stained with SOX-10 using Ventana Benchmark Ultra stainers, coverslipped, and examined, followed by coverslip removal and application of MART-1 (Ventana A103). The order of antibody application and chromagen detection kit (AP-RED vs. DAB) was reversed to establish reliability and robustness of the protocol. RESULTS: All melanocytes marked with SOX-10 and MART-1, and produced a range of staining quality that varied based on order of stain application and chromagen kit were used. The optimal combination was red MART-1 applied first followed by brown SOX-10 applied second. CONCLUSIONS: Consecutive staining of melanocytes with SOX-10 and MART-1 may improve diagnostic confidence of melanocyte identification, particularly in detection of single cell, micrometastases in sentinel lymph nodes or in situations where dual immunohistochemical stains may be unavailable.

Metastatic melanoma with dedifferentiation and extensive rhabdomyosarcomatous heterologous component.

Melanoma may undergo dedifferentiation and sarcomatous transformation with loss of melanocytic markers. Dedifferentiated melanoma rarely forms true rhabdomyoblasts with skeletal muscle immunophenotype (rhabdomyosarcomatous heterologous component). A 52-year-old woman was diagnosed with invasive melanoma (Breslow thickness 0.83 mm) of the upper back in 2012, treated by wide local excision only. In 2013, an axillary mass was excised to show metastatic melanoma with 2 morphologies: an epithelioid morphology expressing S100 and MART-1 and a spindled morphology with loss of melanocytic markers but strong expression of desmin. This metastasis was found to have BRAF V600E mutation. In 2015, a thoracic epidural mass biopsy showed atypical spindle cells with focal HMB-45 but essentially no S100 expression. Numerous rhabdomyoblasts, some with striations that were strongly positive for desmin and myogenin, were present. In 2016, a right nephrectomy was performed for metastasis to the kidney, and showed sheets of spindle cells and rhabdomyoblasts expressing desmin and myogenin but not S100. Only focal areas demonstrated expression of HMB-45 and SOX-10, supporting the melanocytic origin of the tumor. The numerous rhabdomyoblasts and the loss of S100 expression in the metastatic lesions in this case could have easily led to misdiagnosis if the clinical history was not known.