Overview
Cleveland Clinic features one of the few completely-subspecialized thoracic pathology services in the country that handles large volumes of neoplastic and non-neoplastic lung diseases. Our experienced thoracic pathologists utilize state-of-the-art molecular testing—including a comprehensive lung Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) panel and FISH for ALK, ROS1, and RET—and have access to a large panel of immunohistochemical and molecular tests within their diagnostic armamentarium.
Our pulmonary pathologists offer expertise in the diagnosis and classification of lung carcinoma in small biopsies and resections, mesothelioma, mediastinal pathology (including thymoma & thymic carcinoma), interstitial lung disease, and variety of unusual non-neoplastic lung diseases.
The Pulmonary Pathology Section receives approximately 5,000 in-house specimens a year, including core needle biopsies, bronchoscopic biopsies, transbronchial cryobiopsies, surgical lung biopsies for interstitial lung disease, transplant transbronchial biopsies, and pleural & mediastinal biopsies. Larger specimens include surgical resections for lung cancer, primary metastatic neoplasms, thymic neoplasms, mesothelioma, and a large volume of explanted lungs.
Experience and expertise
Our lung pathologists are key participants in multidisciplinary interstitial lung disease conferences, thoracic tumor boards, and radiology-pathology teaching conferences for pulmonary fellows. The Pulmonary Pathology Section works closely with thoracic surgeons, interstitial lung disease programs, and one of the busiest lung transplant programs in the country. Cleveland Clinic is recognized in the U.S. and throughout the world for its expertise and care.
Our staff is actively engaged in research in thoracic pathology and collaborates with clinicians in research projects, including providing pathologic support for a number of multi-institution clinical trials in interstitial lung disease, lung cancer, and lung transplantation.
