Research Summary

I am a full time diagnostic surgical pathologist specializing in gynecological pathology (cancers, sarcomas, benign tumors, pre-malignant lesions, infections, hormonal alterations, and developmental abnormalities of the ovaries, fallopian tubes, endometrium, myometrium, cervix, peritoneum, vagina, and vulva as well as gestational trophoblastic diseases.

I serve as the Director of the Gynecological Pathology Service and as Program Director of the Gynecological Pathology Fellowship.

Inter-departmental collaboration is central to both my clinical service and research activity. I work closely with my UCSF colleagues in the OB/GYN, Gynecologic Oncology, Genetic Counseling, and Radiology departments.

My clinical research focuses on diagnostic classification of gynecologic neoplasms, with an aim toward improvement of personalized tailoring of treatment decisions and tailoring of risk assessment for hereditary disease (i.e. the pathology perspective of precision medicine) by evaluating roles for integrating clinical, morphologic, immunohistochemical, and molecular diagnostic data.

My professional organizational service includes being Associate Editor of the International Journal of Gynecologic Pathology, a member of the American Board of Pathology test development and advisory committee, and past Co-Chair of Education and Secretary on the executive board of the International Society of Gynecologic Pathologists. I am an editor and co-author of the 5th edition World Health Classification system of Female Genital Tumors, a co-author of multiple consensus guidelines from the International Society of Gynecological Pathologists, International Collaboration on Cancer Reporting, and numerous international consensus panels.

I also enjoy teaching at the continuing medical education level and routine speak at national and international conferences organized by the main societies in surgical pathology (USCAP, CAP, ASCP, International Academy of Pathology, International Society of Gynecological Pathology, British Association of Gynecological Pathology).

I frequently serve as a research and career mentor to medical students, residents, fellows and international visitors and welcome establishing new connections.

Education

Harvard Medical School, MD, 1992-98, Medicine
Harvard School of Public Health, M.P.H., 1995-96, Medicine
University of California, San Francisco, Intern, 1998-99, General Surgery
University of California, San Francisco Resident, 1999-01, Anatomic Pathology
University of California, San Francisco Fellow, 2001-02, Surgical Pathology
University of California, San Francisco, Fellow, 2002-03, Cytopathology
Harvard Medical School Fellow, 2003-04, Gynecologic and Breast Pathology

Selected Publications

  1. Kirsch A, Strachowski L, Poder L, Behr S, Feldstein V, Harwin J, Lehrman E, Rabban J, Shum D, Whetstone S, Choi H. Secondary Postpregnancy Hemorrhage: Guide for Diagnosis and Management. Radiographics. 2025 May; 45(5):e240098.  View on PubMed
  2. Rabban JT, McCluggage WG. Ovarian Sex Cord-Stromal Neoplasms: An Overview of Molecular Events and How to Correlate Morphology With Molecular Findings. Adv Anat Pathol. 2025 Jan 01; 32(1):70-84.  View on PubMed
  3. Bogaerts JM, Steenbeek MP, Bokhorst JM, van Bommel MH, Abete L, Addante F, Brinkhuis M, Chrzan A, Cordier F, Devouassoux-Shisheboran M, Fernández-Pérez J, Fischer A, Gilks CB, Guerriero A, Jaconi M, Kleijn TG, Kooreman L, Martin S, Milla J, Narducci N, Ntala C, Parkash V, de Pauw C, Rabban JT, Rijstenberg L, Rottscholl R, Staebler A, Van de Vijver K, Zannoni GF, van Zanten M, AI-STIC Study Group, de Hullu JA, Simons M, van der Laak JA. Assessing the impact of deep-learning assistance on the histopathological diagnosis of serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma (STIC) in fallopian tubes. J Pathol Clin Res. 2024 Nov; 10(6):e70006.  View on PubMed
  4. Chen CV, Orlando MS, Abel MK, Opoku-Anane J, Rabban JT. Diagnostic Utility of Deeper Level Tissue Sections of Negative Peritoneal Biopsies for Clinically Suspected Endometriosis. Int J Gynecol Pathol. 2024 Oct 30.  View on PubMed
  5. VanBuren W, Feldman M, Shenoy-Bhangle AS, Sakala MD, Young S, Chamie LP, Giudice L, Hindman NM, Tong A, Rabban JT, Yano M, Kilcoyne A, Dave HD, Poder L, Kho RM, Burnett TL, Khan Z, King C, Shen L, Colak C, Burk KS, Andrieu PIC, Franco IVP, Glanc P, Kielar AZ, Taffel MT, Kania LM, Bonde A, Pectasides M, Arif-Tiwari H, Laifer-Narin S, Nicola R, Jha P. Radiology State-of-the-art Review: Endometriosis Imaging Interpretation and Reporting. Radiology. 2024 Sep; 312(3):e233482.  View on PubMed
  6. Walia A, Ladwig NR, Mak JS, Rabban JT. Prevalence of Occult Ovarian Cancer and Metastatic Breast Cancer in Ovarian Ablation Specimens of Patients With Hormone Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer: Implications for Tissue Sampling Strategies, Early Ovarian Cancer Detection and Resource Utilization. Int J Gynecol Pathol. 2025 Mar 01; 44(2):174-181.  View on PubMed
  7. Powell A, Hodgson A, Cohen PA, Rabban JT, Park KJ, McCluggage WG, Gilks CB, Singh N, Oliva E, Contributors from the International Society of Gynecological Pathologists (ISGyP) Endocervical Adeno. Improved Risk Prediction in Human Papillomavirus-Associated Endocervical Adenocarcinoma Through Assessment of Binary Silva Pattern-based Classification: An International Multicenter Retrospective Observational Study Led by the International Society of Gynecological Pathologists (ISGyP). Int J Gynecol Pathol. 2024 Sep 01; 43(5):436-446.  View on PubMed
  8. Levy RA, Diala PC, Rothschild HT, Correa J, Lehrman E, Markley JC, Poder L, Rabban J, Chen LM, Gras J, Sobhani NC, Cassidy AG, Chapman JS. Roadmap to safety: a single center study of evidence-informed approach to placenta accreta spectrum. Front Surg. 2024; 11:1347549.  View on PubMed
  9. Banet N, Parra-Herran C, Rabban JT, Oliva E, Ellenson LH, Park KJ, Singh N, Devins KM, Rashid S, Talia KL. Gynecologic Pathology Journal Club: A 2-year, Worldwide Virtual Learning Experience With a Focus on Mentorship and Inclusion. Int J Gynecol Pathol. 2024 Nov 01; 43(6):652-660.  View on PubMed
  10. McCluggage WG, Bosse T, Gilks CB, Howitt BE, McAlpine JN, Nucci MR, Rabban JT, Singh N, Talia KL, Parra-Herran C. FIGO 2023 endometrial cancer staging: too much, too soon? Int J Gynecol Cancer. 2024 Jan 05; 34(1):138-143.  View on PubMed
  11. Kayraklioglu N, Katsakhyan L, Cohen PA, Singh N, Rabban JT, Matias-Guiu X. Perceptions of Controversies and Unresolved Issues in the 2014 FIGO Staging System for Endometrial Cancer: Survey Results From Members of the International Society of Gynecological Pathologists and International Gynecologic Cancer Society. Int J Gynecol Pathol. 2024 May 01; 43(3):242-252.  View on PubMed
  12. Rahmioglu N, Mortlock S, Ghiasi M, Møller PL, Stefansdottir L, Galarneau G, Turman C, Danning R, Law MH, Sapkota Y, Christofidou P, Skarp S, Giri A, Banasik K, Krassowski M, Lepamets M, Marciniak B, Nõukas M, Perro D, Sliz E, Sobalska-Kwapis M, Thorleifsson G, Topbas-Selcuki NF, Vitonis A, Westergaard D, Arnadottir R, Burgdorf KS, Campbell A, Cheuk CSK, Clementi C, Cook J, De Vivo I, DiVasta A, Dorien O, Donoghue JF, Edwards T, Fontanillas P, Fung JN, Geirsson RT, Girling JE, Harkki P, Harris HR, Healey M, Heikinheimo O, Holdsworth-Carson S, Hostettler IC, Houlden H, Houshdaran S, Irwin JC, Jarvelin MR, Kamatani Y, Kennedy SH, Kepka E, Kettunen J, Kubo M, Kulig B, Kurra V, Laivuori H, Laufer MR, Lindgren CM, MacGregor S, Mangino M, Martin NG, Matalliotaki C, Matalliotakis M, Murray AD, Ndungu A, Nezhat C, Olsen CM, Opoku-Anane J, Padmanabhan S, Paranjpe M, Peters M, Polak G, Porteous DJ, Rabban J, Rexrode KM, Romanowicz H, Saare M, Saavalainen L, Schork AJ, Sen S, Shafrir AL, Siewierska-Górska A, Slomka M, Smith BH, Smolarz B, Szaflik T, Szyllo K, Takahashi A, Terry KL, Tomassetti C, Treloar SA, Vanhie A, Vincent K, Vo KC, Werring DJ, Zeggini E, Zervou MI, DBDS Genomic Consortium, FinnGen Study, FinnGen Endometriosis Taskforce, Celmatix Research Team, 23andMe Research Team, Adachi S, Buring JE, Ridker PM, D'Hooghe T, Goulielmos GN, Hapangama DK, Hayward C, Horne AW, Low SK, Martikainen H, Chasman DI, Rogers PAW, Saunders PT, Sirota M, Spector T, Strapagiel D, Tung JY, Whiteman DC, Giudice LC, Velez-Edwards DR, Uimari O, Kraft P, Salumets A, Nyholt DR, Mägi R, Stefansson K, Becker CM, Yurttas-Beim P, Steinthorsdottir V, Nyegaard M, Missmer SA, Montgomery GW, Morris AP, Zondervan KT. The genetic basis of endometriosis and comorbidity with other pain and inflammatory conditions. Nat Genet. 2023 03; 55(3):423-436.  View on PubMed
  13. Kayraklioglu N, Gasper C, Cho SJ, Lage J, Rabban JT. Intact Chorionic Vesicle in Very Early Products of Conception Specimens: Clinicopathologic Features of 26 Cases That May Mimic Complete Hydatidiform Mole. Am J Surg Pathol. 2023 03 01; 47(3):397-408.  View on PubMed
  14. Ladwig NR, Bean GR, Pekmezci M, Boscardin J, Joseph NM, Therrien N, Sangoi AR, Piening B, Rajamanickam V, Galvin M, Bernard B, Zaloudek C, Rabban JT, Garg K, Umetsu SE. Uterine Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumors: Proposed Risk Stratification Model Using Integrated Clinicopathologic and Molecular Analysis. Am J Surg Pathol. 2023 02 01; 47(2):157-171.  View on PubMed
  15. Nucci MR, Webster F, Croce S, George S, Howitt BE, Ip PPC, Lee CH, Rabban JT, Soslow RA, van der Griend R, Lax SF, McCluggage WG. Data Set for Reporting of Uterine Malignant and Potentially Malignant Mesenchymal Tumors: Recommendations From the International Collaboration on Cancer Reporting (ICCR). Int J Gynecol Pathol. 2022 Nov 01; 41(Suppl 1):S44-S63.  View on PubMed
  16. Rabban JT, Chen LM, Devine WP. Homologous Recombination Deficiency and Ovarian Cancer Treatment Decisions: Practical Implications for Pathologists for Tumor Typing and Reporting. Surg Pathol Clin. 2022 Jun; 15(2):219-234.  View on PubMed
  17. Bowman CJ, Medeiros F, Fadare O, Sangoi AR, Horvai AE, Devine WP, McCluggage WG, Rabban JT. ALK Immunoexpression is Specific for Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor Among Vulvovaginal Mesenchymal Neoplasms. Int J Gynecol Pathol. 2023 Jan 01; 42(1):1-10.  View on PubMed
  18. Rabban JT, Garg K, Ladwig NR, Zaloudek CJ, Devine WP. Cytoplasmic Pattern p53 Immunoexpression in Pelvic and Endometrial Carcinomas With TP53 Mutation Involving Nuclear Localization Domains: An Uncommon But Potential Diagnostic Pitfall With Clinical Implications. Am J Surg Pathol. 2021 11 01; 45(11):1441-1451.  View on PubMed
  19. Sugi MD, Penna R, Jha P, Poder L, Behr SC, Courtier J, Mok-Lin E, Rabban JT, Choi HH. Müllerian Duct Anomalies: Role in Fertility and Pregnancy. Radiographics. 2021 Oct; 41(6):1857-1875.  View on PubMed
  20. McNally L, Rabban JT, Poder L, Chetty S, Ueda S, Chen LM. Differentiating complete hydatidiform mole and coexistent fetus and placental mesenchymal dysplasia: A series of 9 cases and review of the literature. Gynecol Oncol Rep. 2021 Aug; 37:100811.  View on PubMed

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