Dr. Shitabata is the President and Medical Director of the Dermatopathology Institute.

He currently serves as the Director of Dermatopathology for the Dermatology Residency Program for the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. He is a Clinical Professor of Medicine at UCLA-David Geffen School of Medicine and a Clinical Professor of Pathology at the Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine and Adjunct Professor of Pathology and Dermatology at Touro University School of Osteopathic Medicine.

Dr. Shitabata completed his internship at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and completed his residency in anatomic and clinical pathology at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in 1992. He completed a Surgical Pathology Fellowship at Harbor-UCLA in 1993 and a Fellowship in Dermatopathology at Barnes Hospital of the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri in 1994. He is board certified in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology and Dermatopathology.

Dr. Shitabata serves as the dermatopathology editor for Logical Images, a software company that develops products to speed visual recognition and clinical decision making. He is a dermatopathology reviewer for Practical Reviews in Dermatology.

Dr. Shitabata is the creator and webmaster for several renown websites. The Doctors Doctor is a website dedicated to helping patients and other physicians understand the surgical pathology report. In 2005, over 6 million users visited the site. The Wall Street Journal recognized the site as an important reference for patients seeking information about their laboratory reports.

His former positions include membership with the Leadership Committee for the College of American Pathologists. He was consultant for dermatopathology for Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (2001-2003) and a member of the Council in Public Affairs for the College of American Pathologists (2002-2003). From 1998-2004, he was a member of the Board of Directors for the Asian American Physicians Association.

He has practiced dermatopathology since 1994. Prior to this, he served as the medical director and chief dermatopathologist for Pathology Inc., a physician owned reference laboratory in Torrance, California. He is a former partner and owner of the Affiliated Pathologists Medical Group, working with them from 1994-2008.

Dr. Shitabata grew up in Honolulu, Hawaii. He is married to Evangeline Uy Shitabata, D.D.M., M.D.S, a pediatric dentist who practices in Torrance, CA. They have one daughter, Malia Jaye and one son, Ian George. Dr. Shitabata lists his passions as the Four B's (Bebop, Beer, Burgundy wines, and Beef). He enjoys playing and listening to jazz music (listen to him playing), especially jazz guitar. He is an avid fan of the music of Wes Montgomery and still gets goose bumps whenever he hears his recordings. He is the proud owner of a Gibson L5 Wes Montgomery guitar. He enjoys good beers, especially Belgian brews, and regularly presents new tastings to his colleagues. He enjoys culinary excursions for all types of food and never misses a chance for a good wine pairing, particularly wines from Burgundy.

AWARDS

Harbor-UCLA Medical Center-Volunteer Teacher of the Year 2006-2007

Paul J. Gethner Teaching Award-Presented by the Harbor-UCLA Department of Dermatology-2006

Who’s Who in Medicine and Healthcare 1998-Present

Who’s Who in America 1998-Present

National Register’s Who’s Who in Executives and Professionals 2003-2004

America’s Best Physicians (Consumers’ Research Council of America) 2003

Appreciation Award- Presented by the Department of Pathology Residents of Harbor-UCLA Medical Center 2003

Appreciation Award- Presented by the Department of Pathology Residents of Harbor-UCLA Medical Center 2002

Outstanding Teaching in Dermatopathology-Presented by the Department of Pathology Residents of Harbor-UCLA Medical Center 2001

Scholastic All-American 1988

Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society 1987

Cum Laude Graduate, Pomona College 1984

PUBLISHED JOURNAL ARTICLES

Kassardjian M, Horowitz D, Shitabata PK, Clark LE. Lymphocytic Thrombophilic Arteritis Associated with Minocycline. Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2012 Oct;5(10):38-43.

Deckelbaum S, Shitabata P, Horowitz M, Horowitz D. Lipoblastoma J Am Osteopath Col of Dermatol 2012;22:55-56.

Deckelbaum S, Shitabata P, Horowitz M, Horowitz D. Intravenous Pyogenic Granuloma. J Am Osteopath Col of Dermatol 2011;21:31.

Eragi H, Prakash L, Shitabata P, Horowitz D. Primary Mucinous Carcinoma of the Skin. J Am Osteopath Col of Dermatol 2011;21:41-42.

Friedman J , Golshan-momeni M , Shitabata P . Myolipoma: A clinical-Radiologic-Pathologic Mimic of Malignant Retroperitoneal Tumors . Webmed Central Pathology 2011;2(4):WMC001878

Kartono F, Basile A, Roshdieh B. Schwimer C, Shitabata PK. Findings of osseous sclerotic bodies: a unique sequence of cutaneous bone formation in nephrogenic systemic sclerosis. J Cutan Pathol 2011;38(3):286-289.

Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis and urologic carcinomas: a possible paraneoplastic association.
Tan BH, Barry CI, Wick MR, White KP, Brown JG, Lee A, Litchfield AH, Lener EV, Shitabata PK. J Cutan Pathol. 2011 Jan;38(1):43-8.

Basile A, Simzar S, Bentow J, Antelo F, Shitabata P, Peng SK, Craft N.Disseminated Strongyloides stercoralis: Hyperinfection during medical immunosuppression. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2010;63:896-902.

Deckelbaum S, Griffith J, Shitabata P, Horowitz M, Horowitz D. A Rare Complication of a Black Ink Tattoo. J Am Osteopath Col of Dermatol 2010;18:24-25.

Kassarjdjian M, Griffith J, Shitabata P, Horowitz D. Malignant Glomus Tumor: A Case series and review of the literature. J Am Osteopath Col of Dermatol 2010;18:21-23.

Magro CM, Porcu P, Schaefer J, Erter JW, Furman RR, Shitabata PK, Crowson AN. Cutaneous CD4+ CD56+ hematologic malignancies. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2010 Aug;63(2):292-308.

Koh SS, Opel ML, Wei JP, Yau K, Shah R, Gorre ME, Whitman E, Shitabata PK, Tao Y, Cochran AJ, Abrishami P, Binder SW. Molecular classification of melanomas and nevi using gene expression microarray signatures and formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue.Mod Pathol. 2009;22:538-546.

Kartono F, Shitabata PK, Magro CM, Rayhan D. Discohesive malignant melanoma simulating a bullous dermatoses. J Cutan Pathol. 2009 Feb;36(2):274-9.

Basile A, Haghighi M, Simzar S, Craft N, Peng, SK, Shitabata PK. Neutrophilic Eccrine Hidradenitis: Expanding the Clinical Spectrum in Non-Chemotherapy Patients. A case report of NEH in a child with seizures, and a review of the literature. J Am Osteopath Col Dermatol 2008:12:41-45.

Dickinson BP, Debrow T, Schwartz RJ, Ginsburg GT, Muller MP, Wyatt L, Yospur GL, Caputo A, Shitabata PK, Lesavoy MA. P43: Inhibiting Tendon Adhesions Following Surgical Repair. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 2007;118(4). Supplement.

Tsai S, Kartono F, and Shitabata, PK. A novel glass slide filing system for pathology slides. Am J Clin Path 2007;128:109-111.

Chia JKS, Shitabata P, Wu J, Chia AY. Enterovirus Infection as a  Possible Cause of Pityriasis Rosea: Demonstration by Immunohistochemical Staining. Arch Dermatol 2006;142:942-843.

Fulton JE Jr, Porumb S, Caruso JC, Shitabata PK. Lip augmentation with liquid silicone.  Dermatol Surg 2005 Nov;31(11 Pt 2):1577-85

Shitabata PK. Pushing glass behind the paraffin curtain: The Doctor’s Doctor Website. Dermanities 2005; January 3; 4(2):a5

Fulton JE, Rahimi AD, Mansoor S, Helton P, Shitabata PK. The treatment of hypopigmentation following skin resurfacing. Dermatol Surg. 2004 Jan;30(1):95-101.

Fulton JE and Shitabata PK. CO2 laser physics and tissue interactions in skin. Lasers Surg Med. 1999;24(2):113-121.

Cutrone J, Yospur LS, Khalkhali I, Tolmos J, DeVito A, Diggles L, Vargas MP, Shitabata PK and French S. Immunohistologic Assessment of Technetium-99m-MIBI uptake in benign and malignant breast lesions. J Nucl Med 1998;39:449-453.

Kibrarian MA, Mallory SB, Keating J, Shitabata PK. Papular umbilicated granuloma annulare in association of Alagille syndrome. Int J Dermatol 1997;36(3):207-209.

Shitabata PK, Crouch E, Fitzgibbon J, Swanson PE, Adesokan PN, Wick MW. Cutaneous Sclerotic Fibroma: Immunohistochemical evidence of a fibroblastic neoplasm with continual processing of type I collage. Am J Dermatopathol 1995;17:339-343.

Shitabata PK, Fitzgibbon J, Dehner LP, Wick MW. Pleomorphic Hamartoma of the subcutis. J Cutan Pathol 1995;22:269-275.

Shitabata PK and Rutgers J. Placental Site Trophoblastic Nodule: An immunohistological study. Hum Pathol 1994;25:1295-1301.

Myhre BA, Jiminez L, Shitabata PK. The correlations of surrogate markers with anti-hepatitis C virus and other disease markers. Ann Clin Lab Sci 1994;Jan-Feb;24(1):76-83.

Shitabata PK and Rutgers JL. The placental site nodule. An immunohistochemical study. (Abstract). Mod Pathol 1993;6:78A.

French SW, Nash J, Shitabata PK, Kachi K, Hara C, Chedid A, Mendenhall CL, and the VA Cooperative Study Group. Pathology of Alcoholic Liver Disease. Semin Liver Dis 1993;13(2):154-169.

Chang C, Dughi J, Shitabata PK, Johnson G, Coel M, McNamara JJ. Air embolism and the radial arterial line. Crit Care Med 1988;16:141-143.

REVIEWS
Finding the Best Immunostain for AIMP. As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology May 2013.

Large Plaque Blue Nevus or Cellular Blue Nevus-Like Melanoma? As Published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology March 2013.

Circulating Tumor Cells in Peripheral Blood of Melanoma Patients Have Prognostic Significance. As Published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology February 2013.

Cutaneous Squamous Lesions Common in Patients Treated with BRAF Inhibitors. As Published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology January 2013.

Mitotic Figures Rare in Cutaneous Melanomas Less than 1 mm in Thickness. As Published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology January 2013.

Expression of p63, But Not MCPV, Associated With Worse Prognosis in Merkel Cell Carcinoma. As Published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology December 2012.

PCR Can Assist in the Diagnosis of Herpetic Dermatitis in the Absence of Classic Histopathology. As Published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology December 2012.

SLN Metastases of Spitzoid Tumors May Not Be Associated with a Poor Outcome. As Published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology November 2012.

Diagnostic Drift? Increasing Diagnoses of Thin Melanomas by Dermatopathologists. As Published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology November 2012.

FISH and Dermatoscopy May Help Diagnose Histologically Difficult Cases of Early Melanoma. As Published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology October 2012.

Pleomorphic Dermal Sarcoma Must Be Differentiated from Atypical Fibroxanthoma. As Published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology October 2012.

Which BCC Histopathologic Parameters Correlate with Depth of Invasion? As Published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology September 2012.

Alopecia Areata Incognito-In Disguise No Longer. As Published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology September 2012.

Twists and Turns in Mycosis Fungoides Progression. As Published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology August 2012.

Static Image Telepathology-An Option for Dermatopathology Consultations. As Published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology July 2012.

Key Clinicopathologic Variables for Surgical Excision of DFSP. As Published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology June 2012.

Chronic Non-Scarring Alopecia Confirmed by Polarized Microscopy. As Published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology June 2012.

Desmoplastic Trichoepithelioma with Perineural Invasion Still Benign. As Published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology June 2012.

Fluoroscopy-Induced Chronic Radiation Dermatitis is Under-Recognized. As Published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology May 2012.

Benign Mucinous Lesion of Genital Mucosa Must Be Differentated from EPD, VIN. As Published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology April 2012.

Calciphylaxis Without Calcifications? As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology February 2012.

What Is Distribution and Range of Melanocytes Occurring in Nonlesional Sun-Exposed Skin?
As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology February 2012.

Microarray CGH May Help Distinguish Between DM and MPNST. As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology January 2012.

Combining Melanocytic Nevi and Separating from Melanoma. As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology January 2012.

Distinguishing Neurofibroma from Desmoplastic Melanoma:The Value of the CD34 Fingerprint. As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology December 2011.

Dual TCR-PRC Analysis Assist in Diagnosing Occult T-cell Malignancies. As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology, November 2011.

Potential New Marker to Differentiate Spitz Nevi from Childhood Malignant Melanoma. As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology. October 2011.

FISHing for Prognostic Markers in Cutaneous Melanoma. As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology. October 2011.

Does a True Category of Atypical PN Really Exist? As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology. October 2011.

The HoVert Technique: A Novel Method for the Sectioning of Alopecia. As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology. September 2011.

How Do New Melanoma Staging Guidelines Affect Patient Care? As published in Practical Reviews in Dematology August 2011.

D2-40 Identifies Dermal Lymphatic Invasion in Cutaneous Melanomas. As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology. April 2011.

Degos Disease-Finally, a Unifying Pathophysiology? As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology. July 2011.

NGFR Is Not Specific for Malignant Melanoma. As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology. April 2011.

Resolving Specimen Contamination With Skin Biopsies. As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology. April 2011.

BSCC of the Skin--An Important Tumor With a Poor Prognosis. As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology March 2011.

Pediatric Cutaneous Angiosarcomas--A Key Role for Genetics. As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology February 2011.

Sporotrichosis Continues to Present as a Diagnostic Histopathological Challenge. As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology February 2011.

Syringotropic Mycosis Fungoides May Be Misdiagnosed Clinically and By Histopathology. As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology January 2011.

Mechanical Transport of Tissues--A Possible Explanation for Benign SLN Deposits. As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology January 2011.

Intradermal Nodular Fasciitis -- Beware the Superficial Spindle Cell Tumor. As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology November 2010.

Back to Basics with an Elastic Stain. As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology October 2010.

Melanocytic Nevi in Pregnancy -- Beware the SMOPs. As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology September 2010.

Stopping Use of the Word No May Improve Pathology Written Reports. As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology September 2010.

FISHing for Superficial Melanocytic Neoplasms. As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology August 2010.

Early Onset Lichenoid GvHD Is New Variant of Acute GvHD. As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology August 2010.

How to Differentiate Between Primary Cutaneous Tumors and Adenocarcinomas Metastatic to the Skin As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology July 2010.

Should D2-40 Be Considered as a Complementary Immunostain? As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology April 2010.

Papular Mycosis Fungoides -- an Uncommon Clinical Presentation. As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology March 2010.

Skin Biopsy of Infantile, Neonatal Erythrodermas. As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology March 2010.

Gd Deposits in Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis Confirm an In Vivo Transmetallation. As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology February 2010.

Nodular Fasciitis of the Head and Neck Region: A Clinicopathologic Description in a Series of 30 Cases. As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology January 2010.

Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization as a Tool for Microstaging in Malignant Melanoma.
As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology January 2010

The Use of Elastin Improves the Evaluation of Melanomas Associated with Nevi. As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology December 2009.

Diagnostic Algorithm for Evaluating Muir-Torre Syndrome With Cutaneous Sebaceous Neoplasms. As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology October 2009.

Current State of Dermatopathology Education. As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology September 2009.

Prevalence of Merkel Cell Polyomavirus in Merkel Cell Carcinoma. As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology July 2009.

Subclassification of Desmoplastic Melanoma: Pure and Mixed Variants Have Significantly Different Capacities for Lymph Node Metastasis. As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology June 2009.

Cutaneous Epithelioid Angiosarcoma is a Rare Neoplasm that Mimics Common Neoplasms.  As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology April 2009.

Shrinkage of Cutaneous Specimens: Formalin or Other Factors Involved? As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology March 2009

Indeterminate Cell Tumor: A Rare Dendritic Neoplasm. As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology February 2009.

Suppurative Inflammation with Microabscess and Pseudocyst formation is a characteristic histologic manifestation of cutaneous infections with rapid-growing Mycobacterium species. As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology February 2009.

Granuloma Annulare-A Manifestation of Infection with Borrelia? As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology January 2009.

Sensitivity and Specificity of Histological Criteria in the Diagnosis of Conventional Cutaneous Melanoma.  As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology. December 2008.

Local Reactions to Tick Bites.  As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology. August 2008.

Histopathologic Study of Scalp Psoriasis: Peculiar Features Including Sebaceous Gland Atrophy. As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology. July 2008.

Primary Cutaneous PEComa: Distinctive Clear Cell Lesions of the Skin. As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology. June 2008.

Consumption of the Epidermis: A Criterion in the Differential Diagnosis of Melanoma and Dysplastic Nevi That Is Associated With Increasing Breslow Depth and Ulceration. As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology. April 2008.

Subungual Melanoma: A Study of 124 cases Highlighting Features of Early Lesions, Potential Pitfalls in Diagnosis, and Guidelines for Histologic Reporting. As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology March 2008.

A Modified Approach to the Histologic Diagnosis of Onychomycosis. As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology. February 2008.

Immunohistochemical Staining for CD45R Isoforms in Paraffin Sections to Diagnose Mycosis Fungoides-Type Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma. As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology January 2008.

The Spectrum of Histopathologic and Immunohistochemical findings in folliculotropic Mycosis Fungoides. As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology November 2007.

Genetically Heterogeneous and Clonally Unrelated Metastases May Arise in Patients with Cutaneous Melanoma. As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology, November 2007.

Verruca Vulgaris of the Vulva in Children and Adults: A nonvenereal type of vulvar wart. As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology June 2007

Histological evolution of lentiginous melanoma: a report of five new cases.  As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology May 2007

The Cutaneous Lymphoid Proliferations. A Comprehensive Textbook of Lymphocytic Infiltrates of the Skin by CM Magro, AN Crowson, and MC Mihm. As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology April 2007.

HMB-45 and Melan-A are Useful in the Differential Diagnosis Between Granular Cell Tumor and Malignant Melanoma. As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology March 2007.

Distinction of benign sebaceous proliferations from sebaceous carcinomas by immunohistochemistry.  As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology February 2007.

Prospective Step Sections for Small Skin Biopsies.  As published in Practical Reviews in Dermatology February 2007.

Review of Dermatopathology by RL Sanchez and SS Raimer. As published in Dermatopathology: Practical and Conceptual. 2003;Volume 9 #2.

ABSTRACTS AND POSTER PRESENTATIONS

Kartona F, Basile A, Roshdieh B, Boyce B, Schwimmer D, and Shitabata PK.
The histopathological spectrum of osseous metaplasia in the setting of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis. Presented at the American Academy of Dermatology 68th Annual Meeting. March 9-10, 2010. Miami, FL.

Tan BH and Shitabata PK. Amelanotic Malignant Melanoma in Situ: A Histopathologic Mimic of Benign Skin Lesions. Presented at the International Society of Dermatopathology Annual Meeting. March 5, 2009. San Francisco.

PK Shitabata, EF Glassy, RA Moore, AK Lui, ER Heyman, AH Olson and H Lange. Performance comparison of a digital pathology solution for IHC to conventional manual microscopy: A feasibility study using 20 HER2 stained breast specimens. Presented at the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology Annual Meeting. March 1-7, 2008. Denver, Colorado.

INVITED PRESENTATIONS

Seven Things You Should Not Say at a Dermatopathology Conference. Presented to University of California Irvine Dermatology Grand Rounds. May 20, 2009. Irvine, CA.

Malignant Melanoma-The Role of the Dermatopathologist. Presented to the Bread of Life Church, February 22, 2009. Torrance, CA.

Seven Things You Should Not Say at a Dermatopathology Conference. Presented to Kaiser Hospital Pathology Department, Woodland Hills, CA. February 17, 2009.

Malignant Melanoma-From the Dermatopathologist's Viewpoint. Presented at The California Hospital Medical Center Oncology Conference.  November 5, 2008.  Los Angeles, CA.

The Wild Wild West-Great Dermatopathology Cases from the West Coast. Presented at the Paul Gethner, M.D. Dermatology Grand Rounds, Harbor-UCLA Dermatology Department. December 21, 2006. Torrance, CA.

The Doctor's Doctor-Melting the Paraffin Curtain. Presented at the Annual Hot Spots in Dermatology 2006. August 19th, 2006. Kauai, Hawaii.

Pathologist Par Excellence Program (PPEP). Presented at the College of American Pathologists Leadership Committee. December 11, 2004. Long Beach, California.

The Doctor's Doctor: Following Your Vision. Presented at the College of American Pathologists Council on Public Affairs. June 22, 2002. Chicago, IL.

The Doctor's Doctor: A Pathologist Operated Web Site. Presented at the American Pathology Foundation. March 10, 2001. Las Vegas, Nevada.

Integrating the Internet into Your Pathology Practice. Presented at the Los Angeles Society of Pathologists Fourth Annual All Day Program. January 20, 2001. Good Samaritan Hospital, Los Angeles, CA.

The Doctor's Doctor: Promoting Pathology through Patient Education. Presented at Advancing Pathology Informatics, Imaging, and the Internet (APIII)-Fifth Annual Conference. October 26-28, 2000, Pittsburgh, PA.

The Doctor's Doctor: A Pathologist Operated Web Site. Presented at the American Pathology Foundation. July 15, 2000. Montreal, Canada.

Last Updated May 20, 2013