Pathology / Histopathology

Profile

The Department of Pathology / Histopathology of Nicosia General Hospital (N.G.H), serves all SHSO Public Hospitals of Cyprus, the Oncology Centre of the Bank of Cyprus, as well as physicians from the private sector. It operates as a Reference Centre and serves cases from the private sector for further investigation and advisory opinion (second opinion).

The Histopathological Department of Nicosia General Hospital is staffed by professional histopathologists, who are organised into teams of the following specialisations:

Breast, kidney biopsies related to kidney transplant pathology, gastrointestinal tract, -pulmonary, -neurosurgery, -urological, pathology and oncology of skin, bones and soft tissues, haematopathology etc.

The medical staff of the Department participates in all multidisciplinary groups relevant to all specialties, e.g. oncology, urology, surgery etc.

The Department covers the whole spectrum of Pathological Anatomy and Histopathology with state-of-the-art equipment and immunohistochemical staining with over 300 antibodies, direct immunofluorescence tests, fluorescent in-situ hybridisation (FISH) tests, and Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) molecular tests for solid tumours.

The Department participates in a National External Quality Assessment Service for the following:

The Breast hormonal receptor module. The Breast HER-2 module. The Lymphoma module. The Alimentary tract (CD117) module. ALK NSCLC

The Histopathological Department, during the coronavirus pandemic, has been performing on average 800 molecular tests per year, using a 52 gene panel for NGS (Next Generation Sequencing) in neoplasms related to carcinomas of breast, colon, lung, brain, etc.

More than 450 molecular tests are performed with in situ hybridisation (FISH) in tumours related to breast, lung, sarcoma, lymphoma, etc while more than 300 immunohistochemical tests for PDL-1 for lung, urinary tract, head and neck carcinomas.

On annual basis, over 60,000 immunohistochemistry assays are performed with the use of antibodies. Many of the above concern cases referred from other oncology clinics for a second opinion. Noteworthy are the ongoing accreditation efforts of the Department but also for the approval of our application for providing clinical training for Pathological Anatomy specialists.

Therefore, the Nicosia G.H. Histopathology – Pathological Anatomy Department, with its range of specialised examinations which are carried out for the most part only by our Department (NGS, FISH, PDL-1, immunohistochemical stains), the specialisation of our staff, the state-of-the-art equipment and the participation in external quality control bodies, ensures the maximum quality of services and consequently maximum benefit to the patient The Nicosia G.H. Histopathology – Pathological Anatomy Department is the Cyprus reference centre for the Oncology centre of the Bank of Cyprus, the Oncology Clinics of the SHSO Public Hospitals, and generally, for most professionals of the Cyprus Oncology Society. It should be noted that the Histopathology Department employs ten Clinical Laboratory Officers, three secretarial offices, and five individuals as lab assistants, office assistants, and messengers.