84507 - Endocrine and Metabolic Disease Pathology

Learning outcomes

Recognize the morphologic and molecular features of endocrine and metabolic diseases, and correlate them with their clinical presentation.

Course contents

PITUITARY GLAND

Pituitary adenoma and carcinoma.

Craniopharyngioma.

THYROID GLAND

Congenital anomalies.

Thyroiditis (Hashimoto thyroiditis, Riedel thyroiditis, subacute thyroiditis).

Diffuse and multinodular hyperplasia: Graves-Basedow disease, multinodular goiter.

Thyroid neoplasms: classification, clinicopathologic and molecular features; differential diagnosis between benign and malignant lesions.

Well differentiated neoplasms: follicular adenoma and follicular carcinoma, papillary carcinoma and its histologic variants. Poorly differentiated carcinoma. Anaplastic carcinoma. Medullary carcinoma (sporadic and familial).

PARATHYROID GLAND

Parathyroid hyperplasia, adenoma and carcinoma.

ADRENAL CORTEX

Hyper- and hypofunction and their pathologic basis. Adrenocortical neoplasms.

ADRENAL MEDULLA AND PARAGANGLIA

Pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma, neuroblastoma, ganglioneuroma.

GASTROENTEROPANCREATIC NEUROENDOCRINE TUMORS

GONADS

Tumors of the testis and Germ cell tumors

Readings/Bibliography

Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease (Robbins Pathology) or equivalent Pathology textbook.

Rosai and Ackerman's Surgical Pathology.

World health organization (WHO) classification of tumours of endocrine organ.

Teaching methods

Slide supported lectures with interactive discussion. Attendance and active participation in classroom activities are essential to promote critical thinking, knowledge of topics, problem solving skills and the overall learning process.

Assessment methods

The final exam will be an oral summative assessment consisting of questions pertinent to the Learning Outcomes and Course Contents of all units comprising the Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases integrated course. Professors of all course units participate in an overall collegial assessment of the student's final profit. The credits (6 CFU) of the integrated Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases course are awarded after passing the final summative assessment with a minimum grade of 18/30. Honors (cum laude) may be awarded to students who have achieved a maximal grade of 30/30 in the final summative assessment and have demonstrated exceptional learning outcomes.

Specifics of the final grade:

Insufficient: lack of preparation. Serious and repeated conceptual errors.

18-19: knowledge of the basic concepts without serious gaps. Exposition of concepts and language as a whole acceptable.

20-24: knowledge of the basic concepts without gaps. Ability to analyze and link in partial autonomy. Exposure of discrete concepts and language.

25-29: preparation of good or very good level or even excellent preparation but with inaccuracies in the presentation that compromise the achievement of full marks. Ability to analyze and link independently. Exposure of concepts in the right succession and mastery of the language.

30-30L: full preparation, consolidated and without inaccuracies on the topics covered in the course. Ability to promptly frame the topic. Ability to analyze and connect independently. Concepts in the right succession and full command of the specific language.

Teaching tools

The teaching material discussed during the lectures will be made available through the designated University of Bologna websites. Students are encouraged to access the teaching material prior to and during lectures in order to facilitate interactions with the teacher. Access is reserved to University of Bologna students registered to the Medicine & Surgery degree program.

Office hours

See the website of Giovanni Tallini