CAPcast from the College of American Pathologists

In the practice of clinical medicine and clinical pathology, novel technologies often disrupt existing paradigms in diagnostic medicine to improve patient care through more timely and accurate lab results. In his new book, Disruptive Technologies in Clinical Medicine, author Frederick Kiechle, MD, PhD, FCAP, discusses some of these technologies and their impact in practice. This CAPcast with Dr. Kiechle gives listeners a preview of what’s covered in the book, which is out now and available for purchase on the CAP’s estore via the link below. https://estore.cap.org/OA_HTML/xxCAPibeCCtpItmDspRte.jsp?section=10045&item=840356&sitex=10020:22372:US.

This month we’ll look at Senate efforts to strengthen laboratories for future pandemics, the potential burdens of post-market surveillance in AI software, and new digital pathology CPT codes developed by the CAP. Later, we’ll hear some highlights from the proposed 2024 Medicare physician fee schedule.

July is Sarcoma and Bone Cancer Awareness Month. Sarcomas are rare cancers in which malignant cells form in the bones or soft tissues. In this CAPcast, Mary Edgerton, MD sits down with Julie Fanburg-Smith, MD to talk about bone and soft tissue tumors and how the Cancer Protocols support patient care and treatment. Dr. Edgerton is the chair of the Pathology Electronic Reporting Committee and Dr. Fanburg-Smith is a member of the Cancer Committee. More information about the CAP Cancer Protocols: https://www.cap.org/protocols-and-guidelines/cancer-reporting-tools/cancer-protocols. For questions, please email us at [email protected].

The Cancer Protocols help ensure that all pathology reports contain the necessary data elements for optimal patient care. Cancer registries also depend on the protocols for accurate standardized data collection. Lara Harik, MD, FCAP, a pathologist at Emory University Hospital talks with Peggy Adamo and Andrea Sipin-Baliwas to continue the conversation about cancer registries. Peggy is a public health analyst for the NCI SEER program and Andrea is the director of registry operations for the Los Angeles Cancer Surveillance Program. Listen to part one here: https://soundcloud.com/pathologists/understanding-cancer-registries More information about the CAP Cancer Protocols: https://www.cap.org/protocols-and-guidelines/cancer-reporting-tools/cancer-protocols. For questions, please email us at [email protected].

In June 2023 the American Medical Association held its annual meeting in Chicago. Physicians across the nation gathered to discuss issues regarding their specialty and the field of medicine as a whole. We sat down with Joe Sanfrancesco, MD, FCAP, to recap some of the highlights from the event.

Platelet refractoriness can be life threatening for thrombocytopenic patients. Penn State Health pathologist Melissa George, DO, FCAP, and pediatrician Sarah Kesterson, MD, authored the new Clinical Pathology Improvement Program course on this topic. In this CAPcast, they discuss how narrowing the differential diagnosis for poor platelet transfusion response is critical to guide appropriate management and product selection. To purchase this case, please visit the CAP's estore: https://estore.cap.org/OA_HTML/xxCAPibeCCtpItmDspRte.jsp?section=10139&item=848356&sitex=10020:22372:US

Pop culture's fascination with forensic science is fueled by TV shows and movies like "CSI," "Law & Order," etc. They offer the general public front-row access to otherwise off-limits crime scenes, autopsies, and trials. The entertainment value and popularity of these shows are undeniable, but their accuracy is up for debate. We asked three real-life forensic pathologists to watch an episode of the ABC show “Body of Proof” and fact-check the truth from the fiction. Members of the CAP's Forensic Pathology Committee, Michelle Aurelius, MD, FCAP, Jonathan Eisenstat, MD, FCAP, and Natasha Grandhi, MD, FCAP, joined us for the first in a series of CAPcasts where pathologists react to how forensic scientists are portrayed in TV and film.

This month, we’ll review some of the highlights from the annual AMA meeting in Chicago, look at why the CAP is opposing a name change for cytotechnologists, and more.

Joseph Sirintrapun, MD, FCAP and Jochen Lennerz, MD, PhD, FCAP discuss implementing digital pathology at Massachusetts General Hospital and the creation of the Pathology Innovation Collaborative Community (PIcc). Dr. Lennerz shares the challenges and easy wins Massachusetts General experienced during the process, where he sees digital pathology heading in the next 5 to 10 years, and the importance of regulatory science. This episode is part of a series of conversations featuring institutions at varying degrees of digital pathology implementation. For more information about PIcc, visit: https://pathologyinnovationcc.org/ For more information about digital pathology, visit the Digital and Computational Pathology Committee resource center: https://www.cap.org/member-resources/councils-committees/digital-pathology-topic-center

Joseph Sirintrapun, MD, FCAP and Sam Terese, president and CEO of Alverno Laboratories, talk about the implementation of digital pathology in an integrated laboratory network. Sam shares the challenges and easy wins Alverno experienced during the process and where he sees digital pathology heading in the next 5 to 10 years. This episode is the second in a series of conversations featuring institutions at varying degrees of digital pathology implementation. For more information about digital pathology, visit the Digital and Computational Pathology Committee resource center: https://www.cap.org/member-resources/councils-committees/digital-pathology-topic-center