Pathology resident wins at tri-state conference

Pathology resident Muhammad Tahir, M.D., M.S.,

presented at the Tri-State Pathology Conference. 

Muhammad Tahir, M.D., M.S., a second-year pathology resident at USA Health, took first place for his poster presentation at the 2023 Tri-State Pathology Conference held April 29-30 in Gulf Shores, Alabama. The conference was hosted by the Alabama Association of Pathologists and brought together pathologists from Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.

Tahir presented “Cranial Juvenile Psammomatoid Ossifying Fibroma: A Rare Entity.” The attending neuropathologist on the case was Osama Elkadi, M.D., director of the pathology residency program and assistant professor of pathology at the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine. 

The case described an 11-year-old male who presented with a cranial mass. Juvenile ossifying fibroma (JOF) is a rare, benign tumor of the craniofacial bones that is most prevalent in children and young adults. It is considered a fibro-osseous neoplasm because it is characterized by an overgrowth of bone. The sinonasal, orbital and jaw bones are the most frequent sites involved. 

Tahir said he chose to present this case at the conference because cranial JOF is an exceedingly rare presentation of the disease. In this case, the treatment of choice was radical surgical excision with negative margins. Due to potential for aggressive behavior, long-term regular follow-up was recommended.

“As a resident physician who has been actively engaged in the field of pathology for several years, I can confidently say that this conference surpassed all expectations, thanks in no small part to the outstanding participation and remarkable poster presentations,” Tahir said. “I wholeheartedly recommend attending the Tri-State Pathology Conference to any professional in the field, as it offers an unparalleled platform for networking, knowledge exchange, and personal growth.”

Tahir has published more than 12 unique case reports. His current research focuses on studying the effects of amygdalin on triple-negative breast cancer and melanoma, and the effect of nicotine on prostate cancer angiogenesis.

He earned his medical degree from Taishan Medical University in Shandong, China. Prior to starting his residency training with USA Health, he earned a master’s degree in molecular pathology from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.