Third-year diagnostic radiology resident Erik Landman, M.D., recently earned the Gastrointestinal Best Case Award at the July-August American Institute for Radiologic Pathology (AIRP) course in Washington, D.C.
A monthlong program hosted by the American College of Radiology, AIRP brings together radiologists from across the country to review and discuss the correlation between radiology and pathology. Vanderbilt Radiology residents participate in the AIRP course during their third year, and are required to submit relevant cases for review during the course.
Dr. Landman’s award-winning case, “Retrorectal Epidermoid Cyst,” reviewed a 31-year-old woman with a history of polycystic ovarian syndrome and endometriosis that presented for a work-up of incidentally identified retrorectal mass seen on a pelvic ultrasound. He initially reviewed the case during colorectal case conference.
“It was an interesting presentation and pathology that I had never seen before, and I thought it would be a unique case to submit to AIRP,” said Dr. Landman.
According to the AIRP, hundreds of radiologic-pathology cases are submitted annually, but very few earn “Best Case” awards. Submission guidelines suggest “components of a great radiologic-pathologic correlation [include a] good representative [of] radiologic, gross and histologic images as well as the histology slides from [the] pathology department.”
“I am honored that I received the ‘Best Case’ award for the best gastrointestinal case,” he added. “AIRP is a great experience for all residents across the country to get a better understanding of how radiology and pathology intersect.”
