Anatomic Pathology
Overview
The Division of Anatomic Pathology (AP) provides tissue-based diagnostic services to both physicians and patients. Additionally, all its faculty members are involved in either basic or translational research, much of which is applied to the development of new diagnostic tests or validation of existing tests and diagnostic criteria. AP is organized into three major sections: Surgical Pathology, Cytopathology and Medical (or Autopsy) Pathology.
The Division claims a long record of innovation in diagnostic techniques, and provides state-of-the-art diagnostic services unparalleled in the region. These services extend beyond traditional light microscopy to immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and specialized cytopathology testing, as well as new molecular diagnostic techniques.
The Division is one of only a handful of academic divisions of Anatomic Pathology located in quaternary care medical centers that provide a comparably full range of diagnostic services. It serves as a national referral center for subspecialty expertise in a variety of areas, including gastrointestinal and endocrine pathology, renal pathology and pigmented lesion pathology.
Residents and faculty in the Division are recruited from a national pool, and its alumni populate major academic centers across the nation, among them Johns Hopkins, Cornell, Emory and Northwestern Universities. Faculty members have published or edited major reference textbooks in various fields of AP, and serve on numerous editorial boards in their respective areas of expertise.
Consult Services
The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Penn Medicine also offers a program for consultations. This “Penn SOS” is a Second Opinion Service for expert consultations in Anatomic Pathology.