Pitfalls and Traps in Neuropathology

Abstract Impediments to making a correct diagnosis are avoided, and complex administrative efforts are used to make those impediments less frequent. There are quality control procedures, patient safety initiatives, and endless meetings attempting to lessen medical errors. Pitfalls and traps are encountered daily by pathologists, and most are avoided. Artifacts produce traps created by cautery, physical crush, thick sections, and drying and are well known. Appropriate deferral, recuts, stains, and collegial consultations aid in error avoidance in these instances. Neuropathology has some pitfalls and traps that are encountered infrequently especially in the low neuropathology case load environment. Those traps are unfamiliar and treacherous for the unwary pathologist. This review describes five cases each with its special trap.