With increased endoscopic surveillance in recent era, pathologists are encountering an increasing number of specimens retrieved from nodules or polyps in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Although straightforward fundic gland and hyperplastic polyps make up the majority of gastric epithelial polyps, a small subset of these will show epithelial changes that raise concern for dysplasia. On the other hand, gastric adenomas are less common, but given their relatively infrequency, they may be challenging to categorize. In the first part of the education session, the faculty will focus on diagnostic challenges related to gastric hyperplastic and fundic gland polyps and review the diagnostic features of the various gastric adenomas. The faculty will also discuss gastric well differentiated neuroendocrine tumors, and the clinical significance of their subclassification and precursor lesions. Non-epithelial colorectal polyps, many of which have been described relatively recently, are relatively uncommon and can have overlapping morphologic and clinical features, posing diagnostic problems for practicing pathologists. Recognizing and correctly diagnosing these mesenchymal colorectal polyps may have important clinical and/or surveillance implications for the patient. The second part of the education session will use a case-based approach to demonstrate selected mesenchymal colorectal polyps, emphasize the clinical and histopathologic features, and discuss the judicious use of ancillary studies to accurately diagnose these lesions.

 

This session is funded by an independent educational grant from Merck.