Histopathology

Histopathology focuses on the structural changes that occur in cells, tissues and organs when exposed to injurious stimuli. It is also intimately involved in the diagnosis of tumours and in determining their biological behaviour i.e. distinguishing benign from malignant (cancer).

Histopathology is based on a thorough macroscopical evaluation of the submitted specimen followed by routine microscopical examination of selected tissue sections. In certain cases the histopathologist has to resort to more advanced methods. These may include immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and electronmicrosopy. In cases where an urgent diagnosis is required, for example when the surgeon excises a suspicious breast lump, a frozen section may be performed.

PathCare Nigeria places a premium on not only rendering a reliable routine histopathology service, but also on employing histopathologists with a special field of interest, for example dermatopathology, nephropathology, gastro-intestinal pathology and lymphoreticular neoplasms. The histopathologists are also trained cytopathologists, who report on gynaecological and non-gynaecological cytology cases. The histopathologists are assisted by trained histotechnologists and technicians who perform the processing of the specimens and prepare the stained sections to be examined.

The practice employs more than 40 histopathologists in total, including two oral pathologists and one specialist neuropathologist. This enables the PathCare Group to supply a comprehensive histopathology service.

The availability of multi-headed microscopes in the major centres makes intercollegial referrals and consequently optimal diagnostic pathology a major feature of this department. The quality of our service is therefore comparable with that of most international centres.