Neuropathology refers to pathologic examination of the brain, as well as the spinal cord, peripheral nerves and muscle. TissuPath has a small but expert Division of Neuropathology with a special interest in brain tumours, with referrals coming from all over Australia.

Our main focus in neuropathology is to provide specialized testing of brain tumour specimens, to assist the specialists caring for the patient in selecting proper treatment, and to give the patient advice about prognosis.

With some types of brain tumours, deletions of parts of certain chromosomes helps to predict which patients will respond to cancer chemotherapy and will survive for relatively long periods of time. The NeuroPath Division of TissuPath is the only laboratory in Australia which is quantifying these deletions using the specialized technique of FISH. The Histopathology and Cytogenetics Divisions of TissuPath have recently published an important report on our research in this area.

NEW TEST: TissuPath's Division of Neuropathology, in conjunction with the Dept of Pathology at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, is now offering testing for MGMT expression in gliomas -- a test which predicts the aggressiveness of these common brain tumors and their response to therapy. We are the only laboratory offering MGMT testing in Australia.

TissuPath also offers pathologic review of biopsies of other neural tissue, including peripheral nerve and muscle.

More information about brain tumors and treatment, including clinical trials, at the Musella Foundation web site.