ClinicoPathologic Conferences (CPC)

The clinicopathologic conference (CPC) has been a popular tradition of medical education around the world for over a hundred years. The typical format has a case report presented for diagnosis by a guest physician, followed by a discussion of the confirmed diagnosis, usually by a pathologist.

In our implementation of the CPC a case, in the form of a medical mystery, is written and presented by Karl T. Weber, MD, division director. A potential diagnosis is presented by one our Fellows for discussion. Louisa Balasz, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Pathology, discusses the pathologic basis of the accepted diagnosis, followed by Dr. Weber's wrap-up and closure of the original mystery.

Additional Reading

1. Eddy DM, Clanton CH. The art of diagnosis. Solving the clinicopathological exercise. N Engl J Med 1982;306:1263-8.
2. Engelberg J. Complex medical case histories as portals to medical practice and integrative, scientific thought. Am J Physiol 1992;263:S45-S54.
3. Heudebert GR, McKinney WP. The status of the clinicopathologic conference in academic medical centers. J Gen Intern Med 1999;14:60-62.

Below are listed our CPCs to date along with the diagnosing Fellow. These are PowerPoint files and can be fairly large. Though a poor substitute for actual attendance and participation, these files may prove useful for review purposes.

Richard A. Parkinson, MEd
Assistant Director for Scholastic Services

#1 Moratorium on Mayhem Lest There be a Requiem - Rami N. Khouzam, MD

#2 Plumbism or Promiscuity - Amit Malhotra, MD

#3 The Mummified Finger - Faiz Rehman, MD

#4 A Case of the Swollen Organ - Maximiliano Arroyo, MD

#5 A Case of Hidden Infirmities - Brian Dockery, MD

#6 Dark Voyage of the Fearless Eagle - Khawar Shaikh, MD

#7 Dilemma on Orchid Island - Frank T. Schwender, MD