AL-KHOBAR — An International Conference of Clinical, Pathologic and Molecular Medicine will open today (Tuesday) at King Fahd University Teaching Hospital in Al-Khobar where experts from the University of Dammam and Wayne University will present their papers on various aspects of clinical, pathologic and molecular medicine. Prior to the conference, a two-day workshop for short courses was also conducted by experts from Wayne University and University of Dammam. The two-day short courses varied from neoplastic pathology and molecular markers of the genitourinary system to current issues in the pathology of the female reproductive system and hematopathology: contemporary issues in the diagnosis and classification of leukemia, lymphoma and myelodysplastic diseases. Presenters will share with the conference's participants the contemporary approaches to evaluate patients with a variety of neoplastic conditions of the uterus and endometrium, cervix, ovary and vulva. This will include discussions on presenting symptoms and diagnostics work-up including imaging, pathology and biomarkers. The main presentations will focus on post-diagnosis clinical and surgical management following the diagnosis. These will be focused talks by a gynecologist and an oncologist who will address topics such as the minimally invasive and open surgery, surgical staging and lymph node sampling and dissection and the role of neu adjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy for tumors of the female reproductive tract. Another session will deal with multidisciplinary management of head and neck and thyroid tumors. This session will focus on the different scenarios involving patients with squamous tumors of the oral cavity, larynx and neck and the clinical approach for the diagnostic work-up and the sampling for pathology. A brief pathological discussion for the clinically relevant diagnostic features and applicable biomarkers will be presented followed by the surgical, medical and radiation oncology approach most suitable to the specific histology, location and stage of these tumors. Similarly, the integrated management of thyroid diseases will be discussed for the more common lesions. The role of fine needle aspiration and frozen section will be briefly presented. This session will lay emphasis on the surgical techniques including the extent of the resection of the primary tumor, lymph node sampling, dissection for staging and management and frozen section control of resection margins.
