The Course objective is to provide the most comprehensive update on biology, clinical aspects and pathology of melanoma and melanocytic  proliferations to date. The primary target audiences for the Course are practicing dermatopathologists, pathologists and dermatologists utilizing skin biopsy in their practice. The topics and the level of discussion are selected to provide in-depth analysis of the most challenging aspects and pitfalls encountered in everyday interpretation of melanocytic lesions. The course format will be primarily case-based with multiple short focused lectures. During the weekend there will be ample time for disussion and contributions from course attendees.  This is not a board review course, but senior residents in pathology and dermatology and especially dermatopathology fellows are likely to benefit as well.

 Upon completion of the Course, the participants should be better able to:

• Acquire new information about biology of melanoma and melanocytic porliferations and their implication for clinical practice,

• Recognize new diagnostic categories/variants and entities of melanocytic proliferations,

• Avoid common diagnostic pitfalls in diagnosis of melanocytic proliferations,

• Use updated diagnostic terminology and diagnostic classification schemes in their routine practice.

Lecture Topics:

1. Categorical classification of borderline melanocytic proliferations

2. Use of soluble adenylate cyclase (sAC) antibody as a diagnostic adjunct in the evaluation of melanocytic lesions

3. Lentiginous melancytic proliferations

4. Sentinel lymph node biopsy in melanocytic tumors: review of the current and emerging standards

5. Molecular pathology of melanoma and melanocytic tumors: implications for classification

6. Nevus/melanocytoma/melanoma: an emerging paradigm of classification of melanocytic proliferations

7. Childhood melanoma

8. Dysplastic nevus

9. Clinical perspective on pigmened lesions

10. Ocular melanoma

11. Immunohistochemistry in melanocytic lesions

12. Nevoid melanoma

13. Prognositc indicators and reporting of melanoma

14. Lentiginous melanoma

15. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in melanoma

16. Regression in melanoma: recognition and management implications

17. Strategies to reduce medicolegal risk

Case Discussions:

1. normal nevus

2. reactive melanocytic hyperplasia associated with photoactivation

3. paracicatricial atypical melanocytic hyperplasia

4. desmplastic melanoma, pure type

5. desmplastic melanoma, sarcomatoid

6. subungual melanoma

7. subungual melanoma in situ

8. atypical superficial Spitz nevus

9. vulvar melanoma

10. atypical genital nevus

11. neonatal atypical nevus

12. inverted type A/clonal nevus

13. atypical proliferative nodule in a congenital nevus

14. atypical scalp nevus

15. atypical ear nevus

16. atypical neonatal nevus

17. spitz nevus

18. atypical spitz nevus

19. spitzoid melanoma

20. sclerosing spitz nevus

21. halo nevus

22. juvenile conjunctival nevus

23. primary acquired melanosis with atypia

24. thin melanoma with regression

25. deep penetrating nevus

26. bordeline deep penetrating tumor

27. atypical cellular blue nevus

28. malignant blue nevus

29. plaque-like blue nevus 

30. pigmented spindle cell nevus (Reed)

31. epidermotropic metastatic melanoma

32. de novo intraepithelial melanocytic dysplasia

33. mitotically active nevus

34. tumoral melanosis

35. syringotropic melanoma

36. halo nevus

37. pigmented epithelioid melanocytoma

38. melanoma in situ with regression

39. recurrent nevus

40. melanoma arising in compound nevus

41. melanoma in a re-excision of a moderately atypical nevus

42. nevoid melanoma

43. lentigo maligna in a Slow Moh's specimen

44. basomelanocytic tumors

45. osteogenic melanoma

46. non-melanocytic proliferations mimicking melanoma 

47. more.......

Submit your own cases for discussion: 

 The course participants will be are encouraged to submit their own cases. Selected cases will be presented by the authors. To submit your case please go to Didactic Session X.

Daily Agenda:

Friday, 4/15/2011

• 7:00am-8:00pm        Registration

• 8:00am-10:00am      Didactic session I

• 10:00am-10:30am    Coffee break

• 10:30am-12:30pm    Didactic session II

• 12:30pm-2:00pm      Lunch break (on your own)

• 2:00pm-4:00pm        Didactic session III

• 4:00pm-4:30pm        Coffee break

• 4:30pm-6:30pm        Didactic session IV

• 6:30pm-8:30pm        Official Course Dinner with a Special Lecture

• 8:30pm-10:00pm      Reception and Meet the Faculty

Saturday, 4/16/2011

• 12:30pm-2:30pm       Didactic session V

• 2:30pm-3:00pm         Coffee break

• 3:00pm-5:00pm         Didactic session VI

• 5:00pm-5:30pm         Coffee break

• 5:30pm-7:00pm         Didactic session VII

Sunday, 4/17/2011

• 8:00am-10:00am       Didactic session VIII

• 10:00am-10:30am     Coffee break

• 10:30am-12:30pm     Didactic session IX

• 1:00pm-2:00pm         Working lunch with lectures

• 2:00pm-4:00pm         Didactic session X

Tuition: Full tuition is $975 per participant.

Physicians in Training Discount: We set aside a limited number of significantly discounted) admissions for physicians in training (residents and fellows). These admissions will be sold on the first-come, first-served basis.   In order to qualify for the discounted fee of $595 you need to:

• present a proof of being in training at the registration

To receive the discount you have to register as "physician in training" and enter "physician in training" code during registration.

Refund/cancellation policy

A refund will be issued if requested on or before Wednesday, March 24th. Refunds are issued in the full amount, less a $50.00 registration processing fee. Substitutions are always welcome. Refunds will not be issued after the specified date. All refunds must be requested in writing. 

CME Credits:

This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of dermatopathologists, pathologists, dermatologists and other health care professionals who incorporate dermatopathology consultations or procedures in their practice. 

The program was approved by Community Medical Centers, Fresno, CA. Community Medical Centers is accredited by the Institute for Medical Quality/California Medical Association (IMQ/CMA) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. Community Medical Centers takes responsibility for the content, quality and scientific integrity of this CME activity. 

Community Medical Centers designates this educational activity for a maximum of 21 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™.  Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.  This credit may also be applied to the CMA Certification in Continuing Medical Education. Support given by educational funding from Dermatopathology Consultations LLC..

Faculty disclosures are pending and any relevant disclosures will be listed.

American Board of Pathology Self-Assessment Modules (SAMs):

Community Medical Centers has been approved by the American Board of Pathology to provide Self-Assessment Modules (SAMs). SAMs are a specific form of Category 1 CME required by the ABP as part of its Maintenance of Certification Program. A self-assessment post-test -- with defined acceptable performance and  performance and timely feedback will be available and is required to obtain SAMs credit. At least 10 SAMs will be awarded.

Exhibitors: 

To preserve the ambience of the Course only a limited number of exhibitors will be allowed to present their services or products at the Course. Each exhibiting company will be provided with one 6 feet x 30 inches (or 16 inches if requested) table and free power outlet. The tables will be located in the breakout/coffee room allowing ample opportunity to interact with the participants and faculty. The room is located between the lecture room and the open patio and will be the social center of the Course. 

The exhibitor's fee ($1700 ) includes registration, participation in an official Course dinner and coffee breaks for 2 representatives. The exhibitors are eligible for all the resort discounts available to the students. The exhibitors will be asked to set up their displays on Friday 4/15/2011 before 10:30 am. They can be taken down on Saturday or Sunday in the morning. The exhibitors are responsible for all the costs of set up and transportation.

In order to apply, please send an email to dermpediacourse@dermpedia.org and specify:

1. Company Name

2. Company Address

3. Brief Description of the Products/Services

4. Contact Person (Name, Address, email, telephone, fax)

5. Number of Representatives