In an annual session growing in popularity with ATS International Conference attendees, pulmonary and critical care fellows presented clinical cases to a panel of expert pulmonary clinicians, pathologists and radiologists on Sunday. The program offered the audience unique insights into how differential diagnoses of unique and difficult cases are generated, based on years of clinical experience.
The fourth edition of the “Fellows Case Conference” featured presentations from 10 trainees whose case submissions were selected by the session’s co-chairs, John Mastronarde, M.D., Rene D. Stapleton, M.D., M.Sc., and Cynthia D. Brown, M.D.
“We chose a panel of master clinicians, pathologists and radiologists with the goal of demonstrating how these experts think through a case,” said Dr. Mastronarde, who is associate professor of medicine at the Ohio State University College of Medicine.
The panel included clinicians Marvin Schwarz, M.D., and Andrew Limper, M.D.; pathologist Thomas Colby, M.D.; and radiologist Jeffrey Klein, M.D. Using slides showing patient radiology images and histology, the fellows described cases with rare or atypical symptoms where the diagnosis is not obvious. Panel members responded with their diagnoses, explaining how they relied on the patient histories to arrive at their opinions.
“The highlight of the conference is the strength of the panel, so we looked for cases that allowed these individuals to showcase their abilities to generate a differential diagnosis,” said Dr. Brown, who is assistant professor of medicine at the University of Virginia.
This year’s cases included unusual presentations of interstitial lung disease and cases with atypical symptoms resulting from rare tumors. Also presented and discussed were the workups of rare diseases, including pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis, the fibrotic thickening of the pleura and subpleural parenchyma.
Though the goal of the session is not to stump the panel members, Dr. Mastronarde said it is fun to try to challenge them.
“Every year it’s interesting the unusual cases that people see, and this year, we had some great presentations,” he said. “Our panelists are all experts in their fields and, try as we might, they are tough to stump.”
The fellows selected to present their cases, he added, had a great opportunity to learn from the “masters” and gained experience in making a presentation before a large audience at an international medical conference.
“They got to hang out and network with phenomenal clinicians at a symposium that was really well-attended,” said Dr. Stapleton, who is assistant professor of medicine at the University of Vermont College of Medicine. “It’s a great experience for any trainee to have to stand up in front of that many people and show what they did.”
Dr. Mastronarde said the Fellows Case Conference is an example of how the ATS is working to involve more fellows in the ATS International Conference and the Society’s other activities.
“The response has grown every year, as the ATS has reached out to trainees to find a way to integrate them into the Society, in particular, by increasing opportunities for them to participate in the International Conference, not only by giving them the chance to present their research, but also by sponsoring more sessions that focus on topic areas aimed at their level of training,” he said.