TissuPath Services for Neurosurgeons & Neuro-Oncologists

TissuPath can provide the full range of neuropathology services, from review and reporting of biopsies to processing and evaluation of larger surgical specimens. And we will evaluate biopsies of muscle and peripheral nerve as required.

TissuPath was the first laboratory in Australia to establish testing of gliomas for chromosomal deletions, and TissuPath serves as an Australia-wide reference lab for this service. For example, oligodendrogliomas with deletions of chromosome 1p, especially if deletion of 19q is also present, have a much better prognosis than tumours lacking such deletions, and they also respond better to chemotherapy (click here for a key citation; click here to download a recent TissuPath publication on chromosome analysis of oligodendrogliomas.

TissuPath, in collaboration with the Dept of Pathology at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, also tests gliomas to assess whether they will respond to chemotherapy.  Normal cells contain a DNA repair protein, MGMT, which blocks the activity of alkylating agents such at temozolomide.  With PMCC, TissuPath tests for both the presence of MGMT protein and for MGMT promoter methylation; good prognosis tumors have a methylated promoter and lack MGMT protein by immunohistochemistry.

TissuPath's neuropathology services are provided by our Neuropathology Group; both TissuPath's neuropathologists are specialty trained and are recognized Australia-wide for their expertise in neuropathology. In addition, through our in-house Quality Assurance (QA) program, we aim to ensure that there is consistency of diagnostic criteria across the neuropathology group, such that reporting by any one of our pathologists will be consistent with reporting by other members of the group.

TissuPath provides colour gross and/or microscopic photographs of specimens, appropriately annotated, to ensure that you (and the patient, if you wish) have a full understanding of the pathology.

TissuPath also understands that you and the patient want diagnostic information back as quickly as possible. For biopsies, if we receive the specimens before 20:00 weekdays we will almost always have the report back on your "desk" (whether a physical or electronic one!) by the following weekday morning. Because of the fixation requirements for larger specimens, you will generally receive the report within 2-4 days.