Ibrahim Abukhiran, MD

Assistant Professor of Pathology

Dr. Abukhiran is a member of the Division of Anatomic Pathology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center-Presbyterian Hospital. Dr. Abukhiran is a surgical pathologist with subspecialty training in gastrointestinal, pancreaticobiliary, and liver pathology. Dr. Abukhiran is a clinical and translational researcher with interest in biomarker immunohistochemistry and digital image analysis.

Clinical Expertise

Dr. Abukhiran’s diagnostic expertise includes both medical and surgical diseases of the tubal gut, pancreas, biliary tract, and liver.

Specialties

Gastrointestinal (tubal gut) Pathology, Liver Pathology, Pancreaticobiliary Pathology, Diagnostic, Prognostic, and Therapy Predictive Immunohistochemistry, Digital Image Analysis.

Certifications

American Board of Anatomic Pathology

American Board of Clinical Pathology

Education & Training
Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan (2009-2015)
Anatomic & Clinical Pathology Residency (AP/CP), University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa, (2017-2021)
Fellow, Gastrointestinal, liver, and pancreaticobiliary Pathology Fellowship, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa (2021–2022)
Awards
Stowell-Orbison Certificate of Merit, United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology (USCAP), March 2022
Stowell-Orbison Certificate of Merit, United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology (USCAP). March 2021
Best USCAP Abstract Award, Association of Indian Pathologists in North America (AIPNA), March 2021
Rodger C. Haggitt Gastrointestinal Pathology Society Case of The Month Award, March 2021
Top 5 Junior Member Abstract Award (4th Place), College of American Pathologists 2020 Annual Meeting, October 2020
Paul E. Strandjord Young Investigator Award, Academy of Clinical Laboratory Physicians and Scientists (ACLPS), June 2020
Resident Research Fund Award, Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, August 2019
Travel Award, National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) Annual Meeting, October 2018
Resident Research Fund Award, Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, December 2017
Research Interests

Dr. Abukhiran is a clinical and translational researcher with interest in biomarker immunohistochemistry and digital image analysis. Dr. Abukhiran's main interest is finding novel applications of immunohistochemistry and digital image analysis that serve as diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive of response to therapy.

Representative Publications

Published Peer-Reviewed Journal Manuscripts

Primary Author

  • Abukhiran I, Syrbu SI, Holman CJ. Markers of Follicular Helper T Cells Are Occasionally Expressed in T-Cell or Histiocyte-Rich Large B-Cell Lymphoma, Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma, and Atypical Paracortical Hyperplasia, A Diagnostic Pitfall For T-Cell Lymphomas of T Follicular Helper Origin. American journal of clinical pathology. 08/4/2021; 156(3):409-426.
  • Abukhiran I, Jasser J, Bhagavathi S. Education Case: Hereditary Thrombophilia with Double Heterozygous Factor V Leiden and Factor II c.*97G>A Mutations. Academic pathology. 06/04/2021; 8: 2374289521990788.
  • Abukhiran I, Mott SL, Bellizzi AM, Boukhar SA. Paraneoplastic leukemoid reaction: Case report and review of the literature. Pathology, research and practice. 01/01/2021; 217: 153295.
  • Abukhiran I, Jasser J, Farhat I, Boukhar S. Case of a Large Pedunculated Biliary Cholesterol Polyp With Osseous Metaplasia. Cureus. 12/29/2020; 12 (12): e12357.
  • Abukhiran I, Jasser J, Bhagavathi S. Double-homozygosity for Factor V Leiden and Prothrombin c.*97G > A Mutation in a Young Female with Recurrent Fetal Losses and no Venous Thromboembolism. Human Pathology: Case Reports. 11/01/2020; 22 (2214-3300): 200425.
  • Abukhiran I, Jasser J, Syrbu S. Paraneoplastic leukemoid reactions induced by cytokine-secreting tumours. Journal of clinical pathology. 06/01/2020; 73 (6): 310-313.
  • Abukhiran I, Jasser J, Hoffman HT, Syrbu S. Mantle Cell Lymphoma Involving Major and Minor Salivary Glands With Parotid Sparing. JAMA otolaryngology- head & neck surgery. 03/01/2020; 146 (3): 309-311.

Contributing Author

  • Al-Alali EA, Abukhiran I, Alhmoud TZ: Successful use of montelukast in eosinophilic gastroenteritis: A case report and a literature review. BMC Gastroenterol 2021;21(1):279
  • Teferi N, Abukhiran I, Noeller J, Helland LC, Bathla G, Ryan EC, Nourski KV, Hitchon PW. Vertebral hemangiomas: Diagnosis and management. A single center experience. Clinical neurology and neurosurgery. 03/01/2020; 190 : 105745.
  • Al-Daghmin A, Alhamss S, Al-Najjar H, Al-Saidi I, Al-Qasem K, Abukhiran I, Hamad A, Alhusban M. Survival and Metastasis In Muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer Patients Who Present With Indeterminate Pulmonary Nodules Before Treatment. Annals of Saudi medicine. 2019; 39 (1) : 42-47.
  • Al Saidi IK, Alqasem KS, Gharaibeh ST, Qamhia NZ, Abukhiran I, Al-Daghmin AA. Trends of partial and radical nephrectomy in managing small renal masses. Turkish journal of urology. 03/01/2017; 43 (1) : 42-47.
  • Ellati RT, Abukhiran I, Alqasem K, Jasser J, Khzouz J, Bisharat T, Al-Saidi I, Al-Daghmin A. Clinicopathologic Features of Translocation Renal Cell Carcinoma. Clinical genitourinary cancer. 02/01/2017; 15 (1) : 112-116.
  • Alqasem K, Abukhiran I, Jasser J, Bisharat T, Ellati RT, Khzouz J, Al-Saidi I, Al-Daghamin A. Clinico-pathological outcomes of post- primary and salvage chemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection for mixed germ cell tumors, King Hussein Cancer Center experience. Turkish journal of urology. 12/01/2016; 42 (4) : 256-260.

Published Abstracts

  • Pharmacologic Ascorbate Enhances the Therapeutic Index of ATM-Inhibitor Based Chemoradiation for Colorectal Cancer. Callaghan CM, Abukhiran I, VanRheeden R, Ali MY, Petronek MS, Mapuskar KA, Seyedin SN, Kalen AL, Rodman S, Cullen JJ, Coleman M, Goswami P, Buatti J, Spitz DR Jr, Allen BG, Caster JM. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2021 Nov 1;111(3S):S56.
  • Humble R, Caldwell N, Abukhiran I, Rajan A, Boukhar S. SATB2 Expression in Renal Cell Carcinoma is Infrequent and Specific for Proximal Tubular Origin. Laboratory Investigation; p.101, SUPPL 1, 564-565. United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology; March 13-18, 2021; Virtual.
  • Abukhiran I, Humble R, Caldwell N, Farhat I, Rajan A, Bellizzi A, Boukhar S. Novel Prognostic Quantitation of PAX8 Expression and Tumor-Nuclear-Size by Digital Image Analysis in Renal Cell Carcinomas; Decreased PAX8 Expression and Higher-Tumor-Nuclear-Size are Associated with Tumors of larger Size, Higher Grade and Stage, and Risk. Laboratory Investigation. United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology; March 13-18, 2021; Virtual. London, England: Springer Nature Campus; 2021. p.101, Suppl 1, 521-522.
  • Gosse M, Humble R, Abukhiran I, Bellizzi A. SMARCA4 (BRG1) Loss in Upper Gastrointestinal Adenocarcinoma is Not Exclusive to Tumors with Undifferentiated/Dedifferentiated/Rhabdoid Histology. Laboratory Investigation; 2021. p.101, SUPPL 1, 504-505. United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology; March 13-18, 2021; Virtual.
  • Abukhiran I, Farhat I, Bellizzi A, Boukhar S. Head-to-Head Comparison of S-100 and SOX10 in the Diagnosis of Melanoma. Laboratory Investigation; p.101, SUPPL 1, 497-498. United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology; MARCH 13-18, 2021; Virtual.
  • Abukhiran I, Farhat I, Bellizzi A, Boukhar S. Reduced S-100 Expression in Melanoma Assessed by Digital Image Analysis Predicts Poor Overall Survival. Laboratory Investigation; 2021. p.101, SUPPL 1, 284-285. United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology; March 13-18, 2021; Virtual.
  • Abukhiran I, Bellizzi A, Rajan A. Characterization of the Nuclear Phenospace with HALO in Ki-67% Proliferation Index Assessment of Gastrointestinal Neuroendocrine Tumors (GI-NET); Arch Pathol Lab Med (2020) 144 (9s1): e1-e212. College of American Pathologists 2020 Annual Meeting (CAP20 Virtual); October 10-14, 2020.
  • Abukhiran I, Guseva N, Bossler A, Ma D. Comparison of the Performance of Specimens From Core Needle Biopsy, Cell Block, and Cytology Smears on Molecular Oncology Testing by Next-Generation Sequencing; Arch Pathol Lab Med (2020) 144 (9s1): e1-e212. College of American Pathologists 2020 Annual Meeting (CAP20 Virtual); October 10-14, 2020.
  • Gosse M, Humble R, Abukhiran I, Hornick J, Bellizzi A. EBV-Positivity is Rare in Gastroesophageal Adenocarcinomas and is Restricted to Gastric Tumors. Laboratory Investigation; 100 (SUPPL 1); 672-673. United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology; February 28-March 5, 2020; Los Angeles, CA
  • Abukhiran I, Holman C, Syrbu S. Patterns of Expression of PD-1, CXCL13, ICOS, CD10, and BCL-6 in Angioimmunoblastic T-cell Lymphoma, Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma, T-Cell/Histiocyte-Rich B-Cell Lymphoma, Paracortical Hyperplasia, Progressive Transformation of Germinal Centers, and Reactive Follicular Hyperplasia. Laboratory Investigation; 100 (SUPPL 1); 1244-1244. United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology; February 28-March 5, 2020; Los Angeles, CA
  • Abukhiran I, Gosse M, Humble R, Bellizzi A. TTF-1 and Napsin A-Positivity is Rare in Gastroesophageal Adenocarcinomas: An Affirmation. Laboratory Investigation; 100 (SUPPL 1); 816-816. United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology; February 28-March 5, 2020; Los Angeles, CA
  • Abukhiran I, Bellizzi A, Rajan A. Detection and Classification of Organism and Organism-like Profiles in Gastric Biopsy Helicobacter Immunohistochemistry by Digital Image Analysis (DIA). Laboratory Investigation; 100 (SUPPL 1); 1435-1436. United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology; February 28-March 5, 2020; Los Angeles, CA
  • Humble R, Gosse M, Abukhiran I, Bellizzi A. SMAD4-Inactivation is Rare in Gastroesophageal Adenocarcinomas and does not Occur at Increased Frequency in Metastases. Laboratory Investigation; 100 (SUPPL 1); 824-824. United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology; February 28-March 5, 2020; Los Angeles, CA
  • Abukhiran I, Lora G, Kirby P, Shelton J, Shilyanski J, Wilson S, Bossler A, Sato Y, Bashir A, Sato M. Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor Mimicking Desmoplastic Infantile Ganglioglioma Of The Temporal Lobe. Neuro-oncology. Neuro-oncology; 2020; Japan. Oxford University Press; 2020. p. iii444-iii444.
  • Hasan Y, Gerke H, Abukhiran I. Gastrointestinal Plasmacytomas. American Journal of Gastroenterology. 2019 American College of Gastroenterology Annual Meeting; October 25-30, 2019; San Antonio. Wolters Kluwer; 2019. p.S1087–S1088.

Podium Presentations

  • Abukhiran I, Farhat I, Bellizzi A, Boukhar S. Head-to-Head Comparison of S-100 and SOX10 in the Diagnosis of Melanoma. Presented at United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology 2021 Annual Meeting; Virtual. 03/15/2021.

Poster Presentations

  • Abukhiran I, Choi A, Bellizzi A. Grading Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors (GEP-NETs) Using Clinically Validated Ki-67 Digital Image Analysis Identifies Systematically Higher Proliferation Indices in Distant Metastases and the Superiority of Hotspot Over Whole Slide-Based Quantification. Presented at United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology Annual Meeting; Los Angeles, CA. March 21, 2022.
  • Abukhiran I, Krasowski M, Bellizzi A, Boukhar S, Merrill A. Patterns and Utility of Fecal Calprotectin in Patients with Microscopic Colitis. Presented at The College of American Pathologists (CAP) 2021 Annual Meeting; Chicago, IL (and online); September 25-28, 2021.
  • Abukhiran I, Krasowski M, Bellizzi A, Boukhar S, Merrill A. Patterns and Utility of Fecal Calprotectin in Patients with Microscopic Colitis. Presented at Academy of Clinical Laboratory Physicians and Scientists 2021Annual Meeting; Online. May 27, 2021.
  • Abukhiran I, Humble R, Caldwell N, Farhat I, Rajan A, Bellizzi A, Boukhar S. Novel Prognostic Quantitation of PAX8 Expression and Tumor-Nuclear-Size by Digital Image Analysis in Renal Cell Carcinomas; Decreased PAX8 Expression and Higher-Tumor-Nuclear-Size are Associated with Tumors of larger Size, Higher Grade and Stage, and Risk. Presented at United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology Annual Meeting; Virtual. March 17, 2021.
  • Humble R, Caldwell N, Abukhiran I, Rajan A, Boukhar S. SATB2 Expression in Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) is Infrequent and Specific for Proximal Tubular Origin. Presented at United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology 2021 Annual Meeting; Online. March 17, 2021.
  • Gosse M, Humble R, Abukhiran I, Bellizzi A. SMARCA4 (BRG1) Loss in Upper Gastrointestinal Adenocarcinoma is Not Exclusive to Tumors with Undifferentiated/Dedifferentiated/Rhabdoid Histology. Presented at United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology 2021 Annual Meeting; Online. March 15, 2021.
  • Abukhiran I, Farhat I, Bellizzi A, Boukhar S. Reduced S-100 Expression in Melanoma Assessed by Digital Image Analysis Predicts Poor Overall Survival. Presented at United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology 2021 Annual Meeting; Virtual. March 15, 2021.
  • Abukhiran I, Guseva N, Bossler A, Ma D. Comparison of the Performance of Specimens From Core Needle Biopsy, Cell Block, and Cytology Smears on Molecular Oncology Testing by Next-Generation Sequencing. Presented at Collage of American Pathologists 2020 Annual Meeting; October 10-14, 2020, Virtual.
  • Abukhiran I, Bellizzi A, Rajan A. Characterization of the Nuclear Phenospace With HALO in Ki-67 Proliferation Index Assessment of Gastrointestinal Neuroendocrine Tumors. Presented at Collage of American Pathologists 2020 Annual Meeting; October 10-14, 2020, Virtual
  • Abukhiran I, Holman C, Syrbu S. Patterns of Expression of PD-1, CXCL13, ICOS, CD10, and BCL-6 in Angioimmunoblastic T-cell Lymphoma, Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma, T-Cell/Histiocyte-Rich B-Cell Lymphoma, Paracortical Hyperplasia, Progressive Transformation of Germinal Centers, and Reactive Follicular Hyperplasia. Presented at United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology 2020 Annual Meeting; Los Angeles, CA. March, 02 2020.
  • Gosse M, Humble R, Abukhiran I, Hornick J, Bellizzi A. EBV-Positivity is Rare in Gastroesophageal Adenocarcinomas and is Restricted to Gastric Tumors. Presented at United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology 2020 Annual Meeting; Los Angeles, CA. March 02, 2020.
  • Humble R, Gosse M, Abukhiran I, Bellizzi A. SMAD4-Inactivation is Rare in Gastroesophageal Adenocarcinomas and does not Occur at Increased Frequency in Metastases. Presented at United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology 2020 Annual Meeting; Los Angeles, CA. March 02, 2020.
  • Abukhiran I, Bellizzi A, Rajan A. Detection and Classification of Organism and Organism-like Profiles in Gastric Biopsy Helicobacter Immunohistochemistry by Digital Image Analysis (DIA). Presented at United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology 2020 Annual Meeting; Los Angeles, CA. 03/04/2020.
  • Abukhiran I, Gosse M, Humble R, Bellizzi A. TTF-1 and Napsin A-Positivity is Rare in Gastroesophageal Adenocarcinomas: An Affirmation. Presented at United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology 2020 Annual Meeting; Los Angeles, CA. 03/02/2020.
  • Abukhiran I, Holman C, Syrbu S. Markers of Follicular Helper T cells are Occasionally Expressed in T-cell/Histiocyte-Rich Large B-cell Lymphoma and Atypical Paracortical Hyperplasia, a Diagnostic Pitfall For T-cell Lymphomas of T Follicular Helper Origin. Presented at Academy of Clinical Laboratory Physicians and Scientists 2020 Annual Meeting; Online. 06/25/2020.
  • Abukhiran I, Bellizzi A, Rajan A. Characterization of the Nuclear Phenospace with HALO in Ki-67% Proliferation Index Assessment of Gastrointestinal Neuroendocrine Tumors (GI-NET). Presented at Academy of Clinical Laboratory Physicians and Scientists 2020 Annual Meeting; Online. 06/25/2020.
  • Hasan Y, Gerke H, Abukhiran I. Gastrointestinal Plasmacytomas. Presented at 2019 American College of Gastroenterology Conference; San Antonio, TX. 10/27/2019.
  • Abukhiran I, Hefti M. Multiple and aggressive vertebral body hemangiomas (VBHs) presenting as metastatic disease: case report and diagnostic radio-pathological correlation. Presented at Collage of American Pathologists Conference 2019 Annual Meeting; Orlando, FL. 09/23/2019.
  • Abukhiran I, Rooney S, Firchau D. Ketamine intoxication from a topical preparation contributing to heart disease. Presented at National Association of Medical Examiners 2018 Annual Meeting; West Palm Beach, FL. 10/13/2018.
  • Abukhiran I, Pelletier D, Bellizzi A, Boukhar S. Colon Cancer Presenting with Paraneoplastic Leukemoid Reaction: Case Report and Literature Review. Presented at College of American Pathologists Annual Meeting 2018 Annual Meeting; Chicago, IL. 10/21/2018.