The 2004 Long Course represented the first time that the pathology of the ovary and the pathology of the testis were the sole focus of a Long Course. The ovary was a topic on its own at a Long Course only once before in 1961, the session being organized by Dr Hugh G Grady. Gonadal pathology was also considered in part, as related to infertility, at the 1990 Long Course on the pathology of reproductive failure organized by Drs Frederick Kraus and Ivan Damjanov. The testis has not otherwise been previously considered at one of these exercises. The 2004 Long Course was designed to update pathologists concerning important advances, primarily in the field of neoplasms and neoplastic mimics, that have occurred over the past several decades in gonadal pathology. The emphasis was on difficult areas that are prone to misinterpretation. The authors have been encouraged to use a similar approach in the essays and to the extent possible give a personal perspective as individuals with special knowledge of the areas they discuss.

The morning session at the meeting in Vancouver began with an historical overview of the pathology of these two reproductive organs, noting the important contributions of preceding workers and touching upon the rich tapestry woven by the story of gonadal pathology. Consideration was then given to the origins of ovarian cancer from the epidemiological, morphologic and molecular biologic aspects. This necessarily primarily focused on the tumors of surface epithelial origin and included a review of dysplasia of surface epithelium and within inclusion cysts, the possible precursor role of benign tumors and endometriosis and discussion of ovarian microcarcinomas. Attention was then directed to a review of one of the more controversial areas concerning surface epithelial neoplasms of the ovary, the borderline tumors, with a perspective regarding those serous tumors with micropapillary or cribriform patterns. Following the morning recess, the origins and molecular biology of testicular cancer were considered. This, in contrast to the talk on the ovary, concentrated on the germ cell tumors, including epidemiological observations relevant to its increasing incidence, unique chromosomal changes and differences between tumors in children and adults. The morning session closed with a review of gonadal germ cell tumors that emphasized diagnostically challenging areas, including unusual patterns of seminoma/dysgerminoma and yolk sac tumor, and a consideration of the different forms of teratoma in the two gonads. The latter provided a rationale for the different behavior of teratomas in the two gonads.

The afternoon session began with an overview of the sex cord-stromal tumors of the gonads that highlighted the similarities and noteworthy differences among these entities in the ovary and testis. This was followed by a review of challenging areas in the diagnosis of ovarian carcinomas, including transitional cell carcinoma, endometrioid carcinoma resembling other types of ovarian tumors, and mucinous carcinoma, with the latter providing the backdrop for consideration of primary vs metastatic tumors involving the ovary. Following the afternoon recess, there was a detailed review of a number of other problematic areas in ovarian pathology that included small cell carcinoma, mesothelioma, mesenchymal and mixed epithelial–stromal tumors. This was then followed by a talk devoted to the unusual but difficult lesions of the rete testis, including carcinoma, adenoma and hyperplasia, as well as paratesticular mesothelial lesions and the problems posed by metastatic tumors to the testis. The session concluded with a brief overview pinpointing some of the important issues presented by each speaker.

We hope the reader will enjoy the accompanying essays that those who spoke at the course have prepared. We would like to record our appreciation of Drs Amin, Bell, Clement, Hart, Prat, and Reuter, who were a pleasure to work with; their spoken and written contributions exceeded our already high expectations. Joanne Johnson, Jim Crimmins, and Dr Fred Silva of the Academy were a source of much support and practical help and to them our sincere thanks, and similar gratitude is expressed to the Education Committee for asking us to organize the course and for thinking of these important little paired organs from which we all emanate!

Finally, this course was dedicated, as is the accompanying written material, to all of those mentioned in the Introductory Essay on historical aspects, and many others whose contributions cannot be noted because of space constraints, whose efforts have brought knowledge of gonadal pathology to its present state. A special mention is made of Dr FK Mostofi, who sadly passed away since the last Academy Long Course. Dr Mostofi's contributions to gonadal, and the broad field of urologic pathology, reinvigoration of the Academy when he became Secretary-Treasurer in 1952, and many years of loyal service have left a unique legacy.