All types of cytologic specimens are routinely received and processed, including gynecologic and non-gynecologic cytology and fine needle aspiration biopsy (both clinician and pathologist performed).
Clinical Services
Anatomic & Molecular Pathology
- Autopsy Service
- Cytogenetics Laboratory
- Cytopathology Laboratory & Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy Service
- Diagnostic Molecular Pathology
- Surgical Pathology
Laboratory & Molecular Medicine
- Blood Transfusion Service
- Core Laboratory: Chemistry, Hematology, Acute Care
- Diabetes Laboratory
- Histocompatibility Laboratory
- Immunology Laboratory
- Microbiology Laboratory
- Point of Care Testing
Health Center Laboratories
Related treatment
Cytopathology Laboratory
The Cytopathology Laboratory, under the direction of Dr. Martha Pitman occupies the first floor of the Warren Building. The laboratory is staffed by 11 cytopathologists, 8 cytotechnologists, 3 preparatory technologists, and 3 clerical staff members. Two anatomic pathology residents are always on rotation, and between 1 and 3 cytopathology/gynecologic pathology/women's health fellows are present in the laboratory. In terms of clinical services, the laboratory provides comprehensive services to the hospital and its clinicians. All types of cytologic specimens are routinely received and processed, including gynecologic and non-gynecologic cytology and fine needle aspiration biopsy (both clinician and pathologist performed). The personnel of the laboratory participate fully in the teaching programs of the hospital and medical school. An active clinical research program is distributed among the members of the laboratory.
As the field of cytology is currently in a dynamic state, the laboratory has made significant changes in its methods in the past 5 years (detailed below) and has plans to continue this evolution. The goals of the laboratory as it moves forward are to:
- Maintain the highest quality patient care activities, using the newest and most cost effective technology available. In addition, new modes of ancillary testing for neoplasia detection, prognosis, and classification are being tested and added as appropriate.
- Provide outstanding teaching to trainees such that they will become tomorrow's leaders in cytology and other anatomic pathology disciplines.
- Develop and evaluate new methods in, and related to, cytologic specimen procurement; and to foster an environment in which clinical, translational, and basic research can be successfully performed.
- Provide opportunities for all staff and trainee members of the laboratory to participate in the above activities.
Faculty
- David C. Wilbur, MD, Staff Cytopathologist, Professor
- Martha B. Pitman, MD, Director of Cytopathology, Director of Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy Service, Associate Professor
- Rosemary H. Tambouret, MD, Assistant Director of Cytopathology, Director of Cytopathology Fellowship Program, Staff Cytopathologist, Assistant Professor
- W. Stephen Black-Schaffer, MD, Associate Chief for Pathology, Staff Cytopathologist, Assistant Professor
- Elena F. Brachtel, MD, Staff Cytopathologist, Assistant Professor
- Vikram Deshpande, MBBS, Staff Cytopathologist, Assistant Professor
- John H. Eichhorn, MD, Staff Cytopathologist, Assistant Professor
- William C. Faquin, MD, PhD, Staff Cytopathologist, Associate Professor
- Joseph Misdraji, MD, Staff Cytopathologist, Assistant Professor
- Brenda J. Sweeney, Technical Director, SCT(ASCP), Chief Supervisory Cytotechnologist
Clinical Program
The Cytopathology Laboratory provides comprehensibr ve cytology services to the MGH community. These services include processing and interpretation of all types of gynecologic and non-gynecologic specimens. The laboratory maintains an active fine needle aspiration biopsy service with preparation, rapid assessment, and final interpretation of both clinician and pathologist obtained specimens.
Recent volumes and case mix are as follows:
Gyn: 38,540
Non-Gyn: 15,932
FNA: 4,652
The laboratory has incorporated several major innovations in clinical service delivery in recent years. The most significant are the complete conversion of the gynecologic cytology volume to the new liquid-based collection methods and the implementation of computer-automated cervical cytology screening. The laboratory now uses the most up-to-date clinical instrumentation and continues to test and develop new methods. Other innovations have been in the application of immunologic and molecular diagnostic tests to cytologic specimens. The laboratory offers a full range (via collaboration with the immunopathology service) of ancillary markers on cytologic specimens, in order to make optimal use of limited cytologic specimen material. In addition, the use of flow cytometric analysis for lymphoma workup has become a routine procedure.
Cytology maintains all of its laboratories and most of the faculty offices on Warren 1.
Academic and Research Accomplishments Dr. David C. Wilbur was recruited as Director of Cytopathology in 2001. His primary interests are in cytology automation, gynecologic cytology, and digital imaging and telepathology. He is a past-President of the American Society of Cytopathology and recently chaired the College of American Pathologists Cytopathology Resource Committee.
Dr. Martha B. Pitman is the director of the FNA service at MGH and has written and lectured extensively on the clinical utility of fine needle aspiration biopsy, particularly of the liver and pancreas. Her primary research interests center on the role of cytology in the pre-operative diagnosis and management of patients with pancreatic cysts. She is co-author of the 4th series AFIP fascicle on Pancreatic Tumors as well as co-author of pancreas sections on ductal adenocarcinoma and intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms in the next edition of the WHO Classification of Tumours of the Digestive System. She is the current President of the Papanicolaou Society.
Dr. Rosemary Tambouret is the director of the Cytopathology Fellowship at MGH and as such, is active in resident and fellow education. She is currently (2009-2011) the chair of the Fellowship Program Directors committee of the American Society of Cytopathology (ASC). As chair, she has helped develop a workshop for cytopathology program directors to be held at the annual meeting the ASC in Denver, CO, November 2009. She is also a recent member of the MGH Executive Committee on Teaching and Education, as well as the Partners Education Committee. She is also the liaison from the ASC to the Cytopathology Resource Committee of the College of American Pathologists and chair of the Membership Committee of the Papanicolaou Society. Her academic interests include gynecologic cytology and fine needle aspiration cytology of the kidney.
Dr. William C. Faquin who is Director of ENT Pathology is particularly interested in cytopathology of the head and neck and the application of molecular techniques to the diagnosis and prognostication of head and neck tumors. He is actively involved in research relating to the role of HPV in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas, the FNA diagnosis of Hurthle cell neoplasms of thyroid, Topoisomerase-alpha expression in thyroid neoplasms, and the FNA diagnosis of salivary gland neoplasms, and spindle cell lesions of the head and neck.
Dr. Stephen Black-Schaffer's interests are in the organizational and management aspects of pathology practice, including telepathology and cytopathology. He is Associate Chief of Pathology at Massachusetts General Hospital, where he directs the residency training program in pathology; he also currently chairs the national organization of pathology residency program directors (PRODS), and is active on committees and councils of both the American Society of Cytopathology and the College of American Pathologists.
Dr. Elena Brachtel is a cytopathologist and breast pathologist. She signs out gynecologic and non-gynecologic cytopathology, gynecological quality assurance, breast pathology and ancillary studies (hormone receptors and HER-2). She is on the faculty of several postgraduate continuing medical education courses and teaches in the areas of breast pathology, gynecologic and non-gynecologic cytopathology. Dr Brachtel's current research interests include involvement of the nipple in breast cancer, role of BTG2 in human breast cancer, digital imaging in breast cancer diagnosis and pathologic changes in breast cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
Dr. John Eichhorn's interests in cytopathology are an extension of his subspecialty expertise in gynecological and breast pathology. His most recent research activities involve the combination of automated screening of liquid-based cytology specimens with the internet-based remote interpretation of captured digital images. He has an active role in teaching gynecologic and non-gynecologic cytopathology.
Dr. Joseph Misdraji is interested in liver cytology as an extension of his interest in liver pathology and GI pathology. He also takes an active role in teaching residents and fellows FNA techniques and the cytologic diagnosis of endocervical neoplasia in cervical cytology samples.
Updated 6/20/2011
