ISUP edu letter: Web-based training and testing in uropathology, free of charge

Dear Colleague,

The International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) is pleased to offer you a web-based training and testing in uropathology, free of charge. At http://edu.isupweb.org you will find a series of image-based tests and tutorials. Currently the tests only cover prostate pathology but we will later add other organs. To participate in this you need to register on the website with a username and an email address. If you wish, you can remain anonymous by using another name than your own.

Some of the tests (currently Test A and B) have two identical tests with an intervening slideshow. The purpose is to assess if the slideshow has improved your skills. Once both tests are completed you will immediately get the correct answers. Thus, it is important that you finish both Part 1 and Part 2 of the tests. You will then see a summary of your results in the two tests. Please start with Test A, Diagnosis of prostate cancer, and try to finish within the next few weeks. This will allow us to make a preliminary evaluation of the efficiency of the system.

Other tests (currently Test C – F) only have a single test. Once each test is done you will get the correct replies.

In the Diagnosis of prostate cancer tests, replies are categorized as Correct, Acceptable or False. To be considered Correct a reply must accurately classify the cases as cancer, intraductal cancer, HGPIN or benign. Whether a case is diagnosed as e.g. atrophy vs. partial atrophy vs. postatrophic hyperplasia has little clinical relevance. Therefore, in benign cases all benign diagnoses will be lumped into Acceptable (or Correct). Try to get as high % as possible of your answers Acceptable/Correct.

In some of the cases, you would probably do immunohistochemistry in clinical practice in order to make a definitive diagnosis. However, in the tests you should tell which diagnosis is the most likely. If you would call a lesion suspicious for cancer in clinical reporting, it should be classified as cancer here.

The grading tests (Test B and F) are based on consensus grades in the Pathology Imagebase library which is available on the main website of ISUP (www.isupweb.org) with a full version for ISUP members and a free limited version.

All tests and tutorials can be read in multiple languages. Click on the flags in the upper right corner.

Good luck!
With best regards,

Lars Egevad
Past-President of ISUP
Professor of Pathology
The Karolinska Institute
Stockholm, Sweden