Anatomical Pathology
The Discipline of Anatomical Pathology, PathWest provides a full range of diagnostic services in histopathology, cytopathology, electron microscopy, molecular pathology, neuropathology, paediatric pathology and autopsy services to several tertiary hospitals and the wider (regional) WA community without the need to refer material to interstate or international laboratories.
Using cutting edge technology, the Anatomical Pathology Discipline provides a comprehensive diagnostic and clinical service in the fields of:
- Anatomical Pathology Registrar Training
- Cytology
- Digital Pathology
- Electron Microscopy
- Histopathology
- Immunohistochemistry
- Medical Renal Pathology
- Molecular Anatomical Pathology
- Neuropathology Services
- Non-Coronial Mortuary:
- FSH Adult Service and Autopsies
- KEMH Perinatal Pathology Loss Service and Autopsies
- PCH Mortuary and Autopsies
The laboratories process more than 100,000 surgical and 50,000 cytology cases annually and provide a full range of diagnostic services including 24/7 on-call services. In addition, large numbers of consultation cases are referred each year by Pathologists from within WA and interstate.
The Discipline is one of the very few highly subspecialised Anatomical Pathology departments in the country, with expertise in Anatomical Pathology subspecialties such as breast pathology, cytopathology, head and neck pathology, endocrine pathology, dermatopathology, gastrointestinal pathology, soft tissue and bone pathology, genitourinary pathology, neuropathology, paediatric pathology, lymphoma pathology, pulmonary pathology, cardiovascular and molecular pathology.
On-site frozen section service is available at all teaching hospitals. This rapid diagnostic modality helps our clinical colleagues in guiding further surgical management intraoperatively.
The Discipline is the main Anatomical Pathology Registrar (future pathologists) training centre in WA, currently with 22 registrars.
It has a close partnership and liaison between academic institutions such as the University of Western Australia (UWA) Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and has been instrumental in establishing a translational research laboratory at UWA and supporting clinical trials, research and development in WA.
As a centre of Excellence in Anatomical Pathology in the state, the Discipline currently supports more than 200 clinical trials and conducts many researches and service enhancement projects.
The Discipline is one of the leading contributors to educational and development activities to professional bodies, such as the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (RCPA), International Academy of Pathology (IAP) Australasian branch, Australian Society of cytology (ASC) and many other national and international societies.