The College of American Pathologists (CAP) is preparing for its annual meeting. From October 2 through October 6, 2026, the CAP annual meeting, CAP26, is set to take place in Las Vegas, Nevada. For five days, the CAP annual meeting will feature networking events, continuing education opportunities, and informative research presentations.

The following CAP annual meeting preview features key CME sessions currently scheduled for the CAP 2026 annual meeting. Some descriptions were edited for clarity and brevity. Times and dates are accurate as of September 2, 2026. For the full schedule, and for the most up-to-date information, visit the official meeting agenda.

Key CME Sessions at CAP26

Saturday, October 3

  • Diagnostic Challenges in Salivary Gland Lesions: Fine-Needle Aspiration Versus Core Biopsy
    • 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
    • Description: Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) and core biopsy are diagnostic modalities for evaluating salivary gland tumors. Due to the wide histological spectrum of benign and malignant primary salivary gland neoplasms, as well as metastatic disease presenting as salivary gland tumors, diagnostic evaluation of these lesions can be challenging.
  • Skin Deep: Practical Pearls for Dysplasia, Atypia, and Beyond
    • 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
    • Description: Community and early-career pathologists frequently encounter challenging melanocytic, squamous, and adnexal proliferations in routine practice. This interactive glass slide session will review both common and atypical cases, emphasizing practical diagnostic approaches, clinicopathologic correlation, judicious use of IHC, and integration of clinical management.
  • The 2026 WHO Classification of Soft Tissue Tumors: What Do I Need to Know?
    • 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
    • Description: The 6th edition of the World Health Organization (WHO) Classification of Soft Tissue and Bone Tumors will be published in 2026, and this course will provide an overview of the most important changes in soft tissue tumor classification—emphasizing new entities, evolving concepts, and novel “next-generation” IHC markers that can be used in place of molecular genetic analysis.
  • Untangling Colitis: Practical Strategies for Distinguishing IBD from Its Imitators
    • 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
    • Description: While features of chronic active colitis on biopsy may suggest IBD, these findings are not specific, and true IBD cases may lack classic histologic features. This diagnostic overlap often leads to misinterpretation, particularly among pathologists less familiar with the nuances of IBD, and may result in inappropriate clinical management. This course will use a case-based format to highlight both classic and atypical presentations of IBD, as well as a range of non-IBD colitides that can closely mimic these disorders.
  • Exceptions to the Rule: Favorable Triple-Negative Breast Carcinomas
    • 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
    • Description: This case-based course will focus on recognizing favorable TNBC subtypes, including select variants of metaplastic carcinoma and salivary gland-type tumors, through an integrated approach combining morphology, IHC, and molecular testing.
  • Unveiling Bile Duct Mysteries: A Practical Approach to Diagnosing Cholangiopathies in Adults
    • 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
    • Description: This case-based session will equip pathologists and trainees with practical strategies for evaluating cholangiopathies in biopsies. Through real-world examples, participants will gain confidence in recognizing disease patterns, applying diagnostic strategies, and providing proper interpretation in complex cases.
  • Nonhematopoietic Malignancies Closely Resemble Lymphoma: A Wolf in Another Wolf’s Clothing
    • 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM
    • Description: This course will focus on the systemic approach to reaching accurate diagnosis, including incorporation of clinical information, key morphologic features and diagnostic clues, selection of essential immunostains and molecular assays, and proper interpretation of the results of ancillary studies.
  • Avoiding Diagnostic Traps: Logical Fallacies in Pathology—A Practical Approach
    • 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM
    • Description: Even experienced pathologists can fall into diagnostic traps, especially when the clinical story sounds convincing, time is short, or a pattern seems familiar. These traps often arise from logical fallacies—flaws in reasoning that distort judgment—and can lead to errors, missed findings, and communication breakdowns.

Sunday, October 4

  • Barrett Esophagus in Practice: Evaluation of Dysplasia in Biopsies and Endoscopic Mucosal Resections
    • 7:30 AM – 8:30 AM
    • Description: Barrett esophagus presents diagnostic and specimen-handling challenges, particularly in community and private practice settings. This one-hour course is designed for trainees and practicing pathologists seeking practical, high-yield guidance on evaluating Barrett-related biopsies and endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) specimens.
  • Pathology in Action: Bridging STI Care Gaps Through Point-of-Care Testing
    • 7:30 AM – 8:30 AM
    • Description: This session will review STI POCT technologies, explore diagnostic and management challenges, and focus on marginalized populations. Faculty will present real-world cases highlighting consequences of delayed or missed diagnoses. Interactive polls and case-based discussions will engage participants, assess current practices, and promote problem-solving strategies to improve STI care in diverse clinical settings.
  • Alcohol-Associated and Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Diseases
    • 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
    • Description: This session will address the pathophysiologic concepts, most important morphologic features, and updated pertinent clinical and laboratory information seen in these types of steatotic liver diseases. Faculty will compare and contrast the histologic changes of the various causes of steatosis and highlight the most pertinent differential diagnostic problems facing academic and community pathologists.
  • Latest Updates and Helpful Tips in the Diagnosis of Testicular Sex Cord Stromal Tumors
    • 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
    • Description: Given the rarity of testicular tumors, sex cord stromal tumors (SCST) are among the most common specimens sent for outside consultation. This session will provide attendees with information regarding recent developments in the molecular and biological features of testicular SCSTs, along with useful tips to aid in the diagnosis of these tumors in their daily practice. 
  • Got a Gut Feeling! Parasitic Infections of the Gastrointestinal and Hepatobiliary Tract
    • 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM
    • Description: This digital microscopy session provides a systematic approach to diagnosing parasitic infections of the gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary tract while bridging any knowledge gaps.
  • The Latest in Prostate Cancer Grading and Reporting of Elements: New Recommendations, New Challenges
    • 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM
    • Description: In recent years, pathologists have been presented with a plethora of new recommendations on Gleason grading of prostate cancer (PCa) through consensus statements and white papers. Further, the definition of “indolent PCa” has been newly enhanced. Many, though not all, of these advances were encapsulated in the 2022 World Health Organization (WHO) “blue book” and latest CAP PCa Protocols. These newer updates, along with the inherent challenges in grading and manner of reporting grade elements, can be overwhelming to pathologists. 

Monday, October 5

  • Breast Pathology for the Faint of Heart: How to Confidently Approach Post-neoadjuvant Therapy Cases
    • 7:30 AM – 8:30 AM
    • Description: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) has become increasingly common for managing high-risk early-stage breast cancer. It has equivalent efficacy to adjuvant therapy, but provides additional benefits such as tumor downstaging, assessment of response, prognostic information, identifying nonresponding patients, and allowing for in vivo testing of new drugs.
  • Ki-67 Evaluation of Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: An Evidence-Based Guideline
    • 7:30 AM – 8:30 AM
    • Description: Current gaps exist regarding grading in small samples, handling multiple specimens, and methodology. To address these, the CAP has developed evidence-based guidelines for grading GEP-NETs with emphasis on Ki-67. This session will explore the key questions and recommendations within the new guideline.
  • Standardized Placental Pathology Reporting: A How-to Guide
    • 7:30 AM – 8:30 AM
    • Description: The practice of perinatal pathology spans a variety of clinical care settings and training backgrounds, including fellowship training in pediatric, gynecological, and general surgical pathology. In complicated pregnancies, both the obstetric clinical caregivers and the parents deserve a placental pathology report that addresses their questions.
  • 2025 Updated Guidelines: LAST Project for HPV-Associated Anogenital Squamous Lesions
    • 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
    • Description: In collaboration with the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology and the National Society for Histotechnology, the CAP recently convened a panel of experts to reaffirm and update evidence-based recommendations for the Lower Anogenital Squamous Terminology (LAST) guidelines for HPV-associated lesions, which were first issued in 2012.
  • Case-Based Approach to Outliers in IBD Dysplasia: A Guide to New Patterns
    • 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM
    • Description: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)–associated dysplasia continues to evolve beyond the classic conventional categories. This mini case-based session highlights newly recognized non‑conventional dysplasia variants—including serrated, hypermucinous, goblet cell deficient, and other challenging, morphologically atypical patterns.
  • IHC in Breast Pathology: Seven Essential Applications for Accurate Diagnosis
    • 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
    • Description: This course will highlight seven key scenarios where IHC stains significantly enhance the diagnostic workup of breast pathology cases. Faculty will facilitate an interactive, case-driven learning experience, inviting participants to actively contribute to the discussions.
  • International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) Companion Society Meeting: Updates in Genitourinary Pathology for General Surgical Pathologists
    • 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
    • Description: Recent recommendations from the International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) and the Genitourinary Pathology Society (GUPS), along with the 5th edition of the WHO Classification of Tumours: Urinary and Male Genital Tumours, novel classification and ancillary studies, and evolving clinical management guidelines have introduced substantial updates in the diagnosis of urologic malignancies. These changes present challenges for surgical pathologists to consistently apply current criteria in routine practice.
  • Problematic Polyps: A Logical Approach to Understanding and Classification
    • 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM
    • Description: The American Gastroenterology Association guidelines for colonoscopy surveillance depend on polyp type, size, and degree of dysplasia. Thus, recognizing and addressing diagnostic challenges in polyp classification is essential. A wide array of polyp types exists, each with distinct clinical implications—even common polyps pose challenges. Distinguishing true invasion from pseudo-invasion or misplaced epithelium in conventional adenomas is often difficult. Similarly, differentiating sessile serrated lesions from hyperplastic polyps can be problematic, even for gastrointestinal pathologists.
  • Updates in Liver Allograft Pathology: Approach to Diagnosing Early and Late Graft Dysfunction
    • 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM
    • Description: This workshop provides an algorithmic approach to diagnosing liver allograft pathology with a focus on current Banff recommendations while bridging the above knowledge gaps. It is intended for pathology residents/fellows, on-call surgical pathologists who interpret liver allograft biopsies in their practice, and gastrointestinal/hepatobiliary pathologists who wish to update themselves with the current terminology.

Tuesday, October 6

  • Diagnostic Challenges in Breast Pathology: A Practical Approach for Every Pathologist
    • 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
    • Description: Breast pathology presents diagnostic challenges at every level of experience—from high-volume everyday lesions to uncommon entities that may not enter the initial differential diagnosis. Through a case-based format, faculty will guide participants through a curated set of challenging scenarios, emphasizing practical diagnostic strategies, appropriate use of ancillary studies, recognition of common pitfalls, and the clinical implications of accurate diagnosis.
  • Don’t Hyperventilate! Breathing Hope Into Lung Pathology
    • 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
    • Description: This course offers a comprehensive overview of pulmonary pathology, including neoplastic and nonneoplastic diseases. Faculty will focus on neuroendocrine tumors, small cell carcinoma, and their mimics, as well as the complexities of lung adenocarcinoma, and discussing recent developments in the classification and evaluation of interstitial lung diseases.

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