" I'm a brain scientist and I let my son play football " -- Peter Cummings, MD
Peter Cummings, MD with his sonDr. Peter Cummings, an accomplished forensic neuropathologist, just posted an article on Yahoo Sports giving his perspective on the controversial question of whether we should let our children play football given the risk for chronic traumatic encephalopathy.Here is the link. Thanks toDr. John Donahue of Brown University for alerting me to this article. (Source: neuropathology blog)
Source: neuropathology blog - September 19, 2017 Category: Radiology Tags: trauma Source Type: blogs
Guest Post from Dr. PJ Cimino: Blue discoloration of the gray matter in a patient who received methylene blue for respiratory distress prior to death
Dr. PJ Cimino, whom weprofiled when he was a fellow back in November of 2013, is a now faculty member at the University of Washington. I was delighted to receive this email from him today:" I had an autopsy case with interesting gross pathology findings, which made for some nice clinical images (below). The patient received therapeutic methylene blue in the setting of respiratory distress prior to death. The gross pathology showed striking widespread green-blue gray matter discoloration. I thought these images might be of interest to share with the general neuropatholgy community, and thought your blog might be a good...
Source: neuropathology blog - September 11, 2017 Category: Radiology Tags: anatomy Source Type: blogs
American Board of Pathology Maintenance of Certification Exam Pass Rate Dips to 97.7%!!!
The American Board of Pathology (ABP) recently published their pass rates for the Spring 2017 administration. After maintaining a 100% pass rate for the previous four administrations of the exam over two years, the Spring 2017 exam pass rate has dipped to an appalling 97.7%!A total of 265 individuals took the exam (at $700 per examinee, the ABP brought in a paultry $185,000 from this administration). Included in this number is probably the few like me who only took the neuropathology exam, with the majority likely taking the AP/CP exam.)Bottom line: No need to worry about either your likelihood of passing the MOC exam or t...
Source: neuropathology blog - September 8, 2017 Category: Radiology Tags: MOC Source Type: blogs
I took the American Board of Pathology Neuropathology Maintenence of Certification Exam
I took the American Board of Pathology neuropathology maintenance of certification exam this week. Given that the ABP goal is virtually a 100% pass rate, I found the test more difficult than I anticipated. I suppose I shouldn ' t have been surprised by the level of difficulty of some of the questions, given that the ABPpublishes the topics covered. But in some cases knowing the topic does not really help with preparation. For example, one topic listed is: " abnormal corticospinal tracts/pyramids " . In any case, I am sure the cut-off score for passing is relatively low. Results, which only entail whether or not one has pas...
Source: neuropathology blog - August 25, 2017 Category: Radiology Tags: MOC Source Type: blogs
Best Post of June 2017: Additional photograph of remarkable CNS/PNS dissection
The next in our " Best of the Month " series is from June 12, 2017:Taken by our staff photographer, Lisa Litzenberger. (Source: neuropathology blog)
Source: neuropathology blog - August 17, 2017 Category: Radiology Source Type: blogs
College of American Pathologists Neuropathology Committee met in Monterey, CA this past weekend
The College of American Pathologists Neuropathology (CAP-NP) Committee met in Monterey, CA this past weekend. We are making plans for our next SAM-eligible educational product that will, among on things, update you on the latest World Health Organization system of pituitary adenoma classification.After a long day at work on the CAP-NP educational product, committee members retired to a nearby restaurant where this picture was snapped:Some of the CAP Neuropathology Committee members (left to right, in the foreground) " Brett Harris, Andrea Weins, Areli Cuevas-Ocampo, Matt Scheiderjan (standing...
Source: neuropathology blog - August 8, 2017 Category: Radiology Tags: meetings Source Type: blogs
Choroid plexus carcinoma in an infant
Some papillary architecture is maintained (Source: neuropathology blog)
Source: neuropathology blog - August 1, 2017 Category: Radiology Tags: neoplasms Source Type: blogs
Best Post of May 2017 - Guest Post: A Case from the Hawkeye State
The next in our " Best of the Month " series is from May 19, 2017:From the illustrious Dr. Karra Jones of the University of Iowa:Karra Jones, MD, PhD40 year old female with progressive headaches over 6-8 months. MRI showed a large cystic and solid mass, favored to be extra-axial and arising from the anterior skull base just left of midline with possible dural attachment. Sections showed a densely cellular mass arranged in a mostly haphazard, slightly fascicular pattern. Alternating hypercellular and hypocellular areas were seen. Tumor cells were ovoid to spindle shaped with scant eosinophilic cytoplasm. No e...
Source: neuropathology blog - July 14, 2017 Category: Radiology Tags: Best of the Month series neoplasms Source Type: blogs
Best Post of April 2017: Screenshots of the surgical neuropathology volume of the Johns Hopkins Atlases of Pathology
The next in our " Best of the Month " series is from April 6, 2017:A month ago I put up a post regarding the release of Volume 3 of the Johns Hopkins Atlases of Pathology for the iPad. This app only costs $4.99 . Here are some screenshots of the app provided to me by series editor Toby Cornish, MD, PhD: (Source: neuropathology blog)
Source: neuropathology blog - July 5, 2017 Category: Radiology Tags: apps Best of the Month series Source Type: blogs
Which subtypes of pituitary adenoma must you be aware of as tending to be more clinically agressive?
Certain subtypes of pituitary adenoma have been shown to be more clinically aggressive in that they tend to be more invasive, have earlier recurrence, and are more resistant to treatment. The following adenoma subtypes are recognized as having a more aggressive clinical behavior:- Acidophil stem cell adenoma- Crooke cell adenoma- Lactotroph adenomawhen occurring in men- Pit-1 positive plurihormonal adenoma- Sparsely granulated somatotroph adenoma- Silent corticotroph adenomaThanks to Dr. Bea Lopes of the University of Virginia for consulting on the compilation of list! (Source: neuropathology blog)
Source: neuropathology blog - June 22, 2017 Category: Radiology Tags: pituitary Source Type: blogs
Best Post of March 2017: Why is the confluence of the cerebral venous sinuses called the " torcula " ?
The next in our " Best of the Month " series is from March 3, 2017:Torcula is derived from a Latin word meaning to “twist” and was also used to refer to a wine press. Within the cranium the venous sinuses come together at the back of the skull in a structure called the confluence of the sinuses. This cavity has four large veins radiating from it, supposedly resembling the spigots that pour dark purple juice out of the four sides of the ancient wine press used to squeeze grapes with a handled screw on the top. The same stem is found in common words such as torture and tortuous. (Source: neuropathology blog)
Source: neuropathology blog - June 22, 2017 Category: Radiology Tags: anatomy Best of the Month series Source Type: blogs
Additional photograph of remarkable CNS/PNS dissection
I wanted to share this additional photo related to the last post. It was taken by our staff photographer, Lisa Litzenberger. (Source: neuropathology blog)
Source: neuropathology blog - June 12, 2017 Category: Radiology Tags: anatomy Source Type: blogs
Remarkable en bloc dissection of human central and peripheral nervous system accomplished at University of Colorado
Discussion is underway about loaning the specimen to theDenver Museum of Nature and Science for community health education.CNS en bloc dissection with extensive portion of PNSConnection to the eyeballs is maintained, with plans to dissect away extraocular musclesDetail showing maintained connection with digital nerves of the left hand (Source: neuropathology blog)
Source: neuropathology blog - June 7, 2017 Category: Radiology Tags: anatomy Source Type: blogs
Prominent Neuropathologist Dan Brat named Pathology Chair at Northwestern
Leading neuropathologist Dan Brat, MD, PhD has beennamed chairof the pathology department at Northwestern University Feinberg School of MedicineDaniel Brat, MD, PhDBrat has been serving as professor and vice chair for Translational Programs in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Emory University School of Medicine.Brat joins a lengthening list of neuropathologists who are departmental chairs. The list includes:Douglas Anthony at BrownJennifer Baccon at AkronSteven Carroll at Medical University of South CarolinaRobert Corona at SUNY UpstateJeffrey Golden at Brigham and Women ' s Hospit...
Source: neuropathology blog - June 3, 2017 Category: Radiology Tags: neuropathologists Source Type: blogs
Best Post of February 2017: Hunched Over a Microscope, Santiago Ramon y Cajal Sketched the Secrets of How the Brain Works
The next in our " Best of the Month " series comes from February 20, 2017:Last month, the Weisman Art Museum in Minneapolis opened a traveling exhibit that is the first dedicated solely to Ram ón y Cajal’s work. According to a New York Times article, it will make stops in Minneapolis; Vancouver, British Columbia; New York City; Cambridge, Mass.; and Chapel Hill, N.C., through April 2019.Ramon y Cajal in his laboratory, circa 1885 Thanks to Drs. Mark Cohen and John Evans for alerting me to this exhibit. (Source: neuropathology blog)
Source: neuropathology blog - June 1, 2017 Category: Radiology Tags: Best of the Month series history Source Type: blogs
