Cellular Pathology

Cellular Pathology examines a wide range of tissue samples. These include small samples taken for diagnostic purpose from a wide range of body sites. Larger specimens come from the tissues removed in theatre during operations.

In all cases, the material is processed to make glass slides which are examined under the microscope. Having examined these, the pathologist sends a written report to the referring clinician. This process usually takes a number of days to complete.

For patients with cancers, there is a multidisciplinary team meeting attended by physicians, surgeons, radiologists, pathologists, oncologists and specialist nurses to determine the best management for each patient.

If you want to know what your tissue sample showed, the person to contact is your clinician, as they will be able to put the findings in the full context of your medical condition. After tissues from patients have been examined, small amounts that have been processed are stored for future examination to inform the subsequent management of a patient’s condition.

If it is intended at the time of surgery that some of your tissue be used for research, your consent will be sought. With the approval of an Ethics Committee, residual tissue after diagnosis may be used for research.

The Cellular Pathology Department also runs the mortuary. Those who have suffered a bereavement should contact the Bereavement Service for all matters arising from the death. The Bereavement Service will advise on the role of the Coroner in the investigations of deaths. If the Coroner orders an autopsy, this may require that tissue samples be taken for analysis. A member of the Coroner’s department will keep the family informed and will ascertain the wishes of the family as to eventual disposal.

The Manchester Coroner
The Royal College of Pathologists
The Human Tissue Authority (which regulates the retention of tissues from autopsies and for research)