The Section of Surgical Pathology performs gross and microscopic examination and interpretation of tissue specimens that include biopsies and surgical excisions. The section evaluates approximately 80,000 specimens a year, in addition to specimens submitted for special procedures only. The diversity of the specimen material reflects the specialized medical and surgical practice of Cleveland Clinic.
Pathologists with particular interest and expertise in various subspecialty areas (e.g., gynecologic pathology, head and neck pathology, etc.) interpret the cases that fall into the subspecialty categories. This subspecialty signout approach ensures excellent diagnostic interpretations, enhances collaboration with specialized clinical services and fosters scholarly activities.
A broad array of specialized techniques is available to augment routine morphologic examination, including an ever-expanding menu of immunohistochemical stains, chromogenic in situ hybridization for mRNA , immunofluorescence studies, and molecular pathology analyses, such as HER2 gene amplification by FISH. Electron microscopic analysis is also performed, with an emphasis in renal and neurological disease investigation.
Faculty members present pathologic findings in numerous interdisciplinary patient management conferences to departments and divisions throughout Cleveland Clinic, playing a key role in determining appropriate clinical decisions across the spectrum of medical and surgical subspecialties.
The faculty is active in a wide variety of research studies in all subspecialties. Involvement includes collaboration with clinical departments on projects, individual applied research studies, and translational research that bridges basic disease mechanisms and clinical applications.
