Pathology

Updated on May 15, 2023.

PATHO*801K. Intro to Pathology. This 1-week rotation will introduce students to the specialty of pathology. Students will begin with two to three days of autopsy pathology with some room for flexibility in the remaining days during which students may be able to rotate through other areas of the department to explore other disciplines such as Surgical Pathology, Hematopathology, Cytopathology or others based on availability. Students can reach out to the course director before the rotation begins to voice their preferences or it can be handled on the first day of the rotation during orientation. Students are also expected to attend the morning resident lectures and other applicable conferences. 1 s.h.

PATHO*850. Pathology. This course will introduce 4th-year students to surgical pathology and cytopathology. Students will review diagnostic slides with an attending pathologist at the microscope. The course is two weeks with nine days of surgical pathology, including gross examination of specimen, evaluation of frozen sections, and microscopic evaluation of biopsy and resection specimens. Students will follow cases from the time they leave the operating room through all testing and report out on them. Students will also attend tumor board on Mondays. Cytopathology is one day, including general cytology sign-out (pap smears and fluid analysis) and performance and evaluation of fine needle aspiration specimens. Timing of the cytology experience will depend on the surgical pathology schedule. 2.5 or 5.0 variable credit hours.

PATHO*853. Laboratory Medicine. This comprehensive elective exposes students to the scope, methods, and techniques of laboratory medicine and clinical pathology as they relate to patient care. Students evaluate the use of normal values, choice of test methods, and utilization of statistical materials for determining quality control within laboratories. The students are exposed to the multidisciplinary aspects of modern laboratory medicine. They work with a variety of physicians and doctoral scientists as well as clinical laboratory personnel. 2.5 or 5.0 variable credit hours.

PATHO*856. Forensic & Med Autopsy Path. This course provides the student with hand-on experience in the postmortem examination of decedents in both the medicolegal and hospital setting. This experience is gained by functioning as an integral part of the autopsy team. The team is responsible for all aspects of the postmortem examination, including collection of historical and clinical information, external examinations with interpretation of findings (both medical and traumatic), dissection of procured organs, appropriate specimen collection for ancillary studies (including toxicology, cultures, etc), correlation of pre- and postmortem findings, and proper completion of death certificates. Students are expected to take call for one weekend and deliver a 5-10 minute presentation on a subject of his/her choice. Biweekly educational conferences occur as the schedule permits.2.5 or 5.0 variable credit hours.

PATHO*860. Cytopathology. This course will introduce students to cytopathology. The students will be involved with the evaluation of gynecologic and non-gynecologic cytology preparations. Students will participate in fine needle aspirations of superficial lesions and with the adequacy evaluation of fine needle aspirations performed by imaging services.2.5 or 5.0 variable credit hours.

PATHO*862. Surgical Pathology. This course will introduce students to surgical pathology. Students will be exposed to gross and microscopic pathology. Students will be exposed to intraoperative frozen sections. The course will be designed to meet the student's ultimate career interests. 2.5 or 5.0 variable credit hours.

PATHO*865. Dermatopathology. The student will participate in the daily readouts of skin pathology specimens and in self-study of teaching sets. The student will also participate in the daily teaching conferences in the Department of Dermatology including the Clinicopathologic Conference and the Dermatopathology Conference. 2.5 or 5.0 variable credit hours.

PATHO*870. Pathology As a Career. The student will rotate with a senior pathologist on various rotations including surgical pathology, cytopathology, autopsy pathology and clinical pathology. Designed for students who are considering a career in pathology. 5 s.h.

PATHO*871. Hematopathology & Medicine. This course is designed to provide the student an opportunity to participate in the laboratory evaluation and diagnosis of malignant and non-malignant hematologic disorders. The student will be involved in the morphologic, histochemical and immunohistochemical, immunophenotypic, cytogenetic and molecular analyses of peripheral blood smear, bone marrow aspirate and biopsies and lymph node biopsies. Correlation of these data with the clinical history and physical findings will be emphasized. 2.5 or 5.0 variable credit hours.

PATHO*884J. Pathology. This course will introduce students to surgical pathology and cytopathology. Students will review diagnostic slides with an attending pathologist at the microscope. The course is two weeks with nine days of surgical pathology, including gross examination of specimen, evaluation of frozen sections and microscopic evaluation of biopsy and resection specimens. Cytopathology is one day, including general cytology sign-out (pap smears and fluid analysis) and performance and evaluation of fine needle aspiration specimens. Timing of the cytology experience will depend on the surgical pathology schedule. 2.5 s.h.

PATHO*885J. Hematopathology/Flow Cytometry. At the completion of this clinical rotation, students will be able to: 1. Learn to use a multidisciplinary approach to the diagnosis of hematologic malignancies utilizing morphology, immunophenotyping, cytogenetics and molecular analysis including Fluorescent In-Situ Hybridization (FISH) and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) 2. Distinguish between acute and chronic leukemias and determine cell lineage and any associated chromosomal abnormalities based on morphology, immunophenotyping and genetic analyses. 3. Distinguish between benign and malignant plasma cell hyperplasias utilizing clinical correlation, classical immunoelectrophoresis and immunofixation techniques in chemistry, bone marrow analysis and cytogenetics. 2.5 s.h.

PATHO*886. Intro to Surgical Path Flx. This course, predominantly accomplished through online activities, is designed to provide participants with an understanding of the practice of surgical pathology and its role in a multidisciplinary approach to patient care. Students will participate in online lectures with associated assessment modules, focusing on the daily activities of surgical pathology, including frozen room management and intraoperative consultations, gross room techniques and their importance to final pathologic staging, histologic assessment of tissue with a focus on architectural patterns differing from normal, an overview of the technical aspects of tissue processing that ultimately result in hematoxylin and eosin stained slides, and an overview of immunohistochemical stains and the activities within the laboratory required to produce high quality stains. Additional modules highlighting the differences between the management of neoplastic and non-neoplastic specimens, gross evaluation of specimens and the medical-legal importance, the minimum tissue requirements for ancillary studies, the concept of biomarkers and actionable laboratory tests, and others as deemed appropriate. In addition to the online modules, students will be required to spend one day in the main hospital frozen section room, two days in main/ART gross room and three days at signout (Main, ART and one additional as per student interest) and will attend morning pathology conference on those days. Finally, students will be required to attend 3 of any multidisciplinary tumor board on campus and submit a written report on the discussion of one patient for each, providing evidence for understanding the clinical question asked during tumor board. 2.5 or 5.0 variable credit hours.

PATHO*886J. Surgical Path and Cytopathology. At the completion of this clinical rotation, students will be able to: 1. Understand the process by what a pathologic (histopathologic or cytpathogic) specimen is processed in the laboratory before it is available for examination by the pathologist. 2. Understand the role of intraoperative frozen section consultation in operative patient care. 3. Understand the role and utility of fine needle aspiration in workup and diagnosis of mass lesions. 4. Understand the relative utility of histologic and cytologic diagnostic techniques in the management of patient care. 5. Recognize the role of the pathologist in overall patient care through interactions with clinical colleagues. 2.5 s.h.

PATHO*888J. Forensic Pathology. At the completion of this clinical rotation, students will be able to: 1. Identify factors that define a forensic or medicolegal case. 2. Perform external examinations prior to autopsy in order to properly document identifying characteristics and injuries. 3. Prepare paperwork specific to forensic pathology including evidence transfer, clothing documentation, toxicology request forms, data sheets, etc. 4. Perform autopsy procedures and protocols including sexual assault examination, sample procurement, and basic dissection and evisceration technique. 5. Perform uncomplicated autopsy organ dissection. 2.5 s.h.

PATHO*900A. Pathology Elective. This rotation includes all non-MUSC pre-approved electives for 4th year students. 2.5 or 5.0 variable credit hours.

PATHO*900E. Pathology Externship. This rotation includes all non-MUSC pre-approved externships for 4th year students. 2.5 or 5.0 variable credit hours.

PATHO*970E. Pathology Research. Individualized research. 2.5 or 5.0 variable credit hours.