Cardiovascular Pathology Rotation

The goals of this rotation are to:

• Develop competency in diagnostic cardiovascular pathology at the general pathologist level
• Gain experience in applying principles of surgical pathology to the diagnosis and reporting of cases

Cedars-Sinai has a long and rich history of research, innovation and education in cardiology and associated fields. Specimens come from the Heart Institute and its Heart Transplant Program, which is annually performing the most heart transplants in the world.

Approximately 1,500 transplant endomyocardial biopsies are evaluated annually, in addition to more than 140 cardiectomies and 100 pre-transplant biopsies for cardiomyopathy evaluations. Other specimen types include valvular resections for a variety of disease processes, aortic resections for dissections and aneurysms, cardiac tumors, consultation cases and assorted other lesions.

The one-month rotation consists of:

• Daily sign-out of cardiac biopsies
• Review of various immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence studies required for heart transplant rejection assessment
• Grossing and sign-out of non-biopsy surgical materials
• Review of consultation cases
• Review of study sets
• Conference participation
• Completion of assigned reading materials
  

This rotation is based on a two-day cycle

• First day:
  • Morning heart biopsy sign-out
  • Gross cardiac specimens after morning sign-out is completed
  • Review rejection-related special studies
• Second day:
  • Morning heart biopsy sign-out
  • Afternoon sign-out grossed cardiac surgical specimens (with same attending)
  • Review rejection-related special studies
  • Read rotation related references, review study sets, complete assigned tasks
    

• Heart biopsy conference, every Friday
• Heart Institute grand rounds, monthly
• Cardiac transplant morbidity and mortality conference, quarterly
  

There are many clinical and translational studies in cardiology with support from pathology. The wealth of pathology material may also be used for observational or other projects by interested house staff members.