The specialist staff in Cellular Pathology provide the clinical opinions on specimens of tissues (biopsies), cells (cytology) and DNA that are taken to make a diagnosis, to guide treatment and to monitor the effects of treatment. Our reports contain the essential information that physicians, surgeons and oncologists use when talking to patients.
We work with clinicians based in the community in Liverpool and in the main Liverpool hospitals and strive to ensure that patients receive a high quality service wherever they are being seen. This involves providing specialised pathological expertise to support many regional and national services, as well as the scientific expertise underpinning the diagnostic process.
Findings from a patient’s cellular pathology studies are discussed at multi-disciplinary team meetings with other clinicians, and the team of experts work together to advise on an appropriate treatment plan for discussion with the patient or to review how a treatment is progressing. Cellular pathology is essential to delivering cancer services within the Trusts.
Several of our staff are involved in national organisations, such as the Institute for Biomedical Sciences, the National School of Healthcare Science, the Royal College of Pathologists and the United Kingdom National External Quality Assurance Service, contributing to the national pathology governance and laboratory assessment services.
Histopathology is the diagnosis and study of disease in cells of the body within solid tissue specimens and organs. By looking at the way that the cells are arranged, how they have developed and how they are functioning, it is possible to determine if a patient has a particular disease, inflammation, a cancer or a non-cancerous growth.
LCL's Histopathology services receives tissue samples from more than 55,000 patients in Liverpool each year, as well as clinical referrals from across Merseyside and Cheshire, the North West of England and further from across the UK.
Cytopathology is the diagnosis and study of disease in single cells and body fluids. Similar to histopathology, scientists and pathologists look at the way that cells are arranged, how they appear and how they are functioning, to determine if a patient has a particular disease, inflammation, a cancer or a non-cancerous growth.
The cytopathology team works closely with radiology in providing rapid diagnostic and sample adequacy services for head and neck, hepatobiliary and thyroid outpatients.
Cytopathology receives samples from around 5,000 patient patients in Liverpool each year.
Immunocytochemistry (ICC) is a technique for identifying cellular components, such as proteins, by means of specific antibody-antigen interactions. Labelled antibodies are used as highly specific reagents for the localization of antigens in cells and tissues. This is a major diagnostic tool in Cellular Pathology proving to be a useful adjunct to routine histological analysis for the investigation and diagnosis of disease. ICC is widely used for diagnostic and prognostic characterization of different tumour types and also plays a role in the field of companion diagnostics that help to guide oncology treatment decision making.
The Molecular Pathology service provides a genetic testing service to support diagnosis, prognosis and treatment decision making for several cancer diagnoses. The service offers genetic testing studies in haematological neoplasms, lung and breast cancer, and melanoma.
In conjunction with the Immunocytochemistry service, a range of chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) protocols are also offered as diagnostic and therapeutic predictive aids for the investigation of breast cancer and lung cancer, lymphoma and oropharyngeal carcinoma specimens.
The Ophthalmic Pathology service at LCL is 1 of 4 highly specialised services nationally that provides comprehensive diagnostics for patients with disease and cancers affecting the eye and ocular adnexa. The service receives samples from 1500 patients from across the UK and internationally each year.
The Ophthalmic Pathology services works in close collaboration with the National Specialist Ophthalmic Pathology Service network, the Occular Oncology Service, St Paul’s Eye Unit, and the Liverpool Occular Oncology Research Group.
The Mortuary Service is responsible for the care of patients who die in hospital, or are brought to hospital after death, and to their families and friends. Mortuary staff have an important role, providing an efficient service whilst responding sensitively to the needs of the bereaved.
Our mortuaries provide an autopsy service, where the cause of death of a patient is investigated by a specialist pathologist and highly skilled anatomical pathology technicians. We provide this service for Liverpool Coroner’s Service and/or Forensic investigations for the Home Office as part of the regional service covering Merseyside, Cheshire, North Wales, Cumbria, Southport, Blackpool, Sefton/Knowsley, Whiston and Wirral.
The Mortuary Service provides care for deceased patients from Aintree University Hospital, Broadgreen Hospital, Royal Liverpool Hospital, Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, Liverpool Women’s Hospital and The Walton Centre.
Forensic pathology is a service provided to the Liverpool Coroner’s office and the Home Office to assist in the investigation of homicides and suspicious deaths of patients. Forensic Pathologists are highly skilled in investigating the cause of death for medical and legal purposes and will often follow a case from a crime scene through to giving evidence in court.
LCL provides 1 of 4 forensic pathologist training schools in the UK.
The Bereavement service provides comprehensive information, guidance and support for bereaved relatives and friends following the death of a patient at our hospitals.
Our service includes the prompt completion of all the necessary paperwork after a death as well as explaining to the bereaved how to register a death, how to find a Funeral Director or arrange a funeral without a Funeral Director.
We work very closely with the Liverpool Coroner’s Service, the Liverpool Registration Service and local Funeral Directors to ensure the bereaved have access to all the information and services they require.