Transplant Pathology

Role

The Transplant Pathologist is a fundamental member of health care providers managing kidney and liver transplant patients.  The primary role of a transplant pathologist is to interpret biopsies in context with the clinical impression, patient’s manifestations and laboratory test results. With the ultimate goal of providing optimal patient care, the transplant pathologist also ensures specimen adequacy, prime tissue processing, triaging of special studies, and the timely communication of histopathological findings.

Responsibilities

Transplant Pathology is integral to clinical pathology sub-specialties, and services are rendered in alliance with Clinical Chemistry, Molecular Pathology, Histocompatibility and Transfusion Medicine to provide the best possible patient care.  Histochemical special stains, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and in situ hybridization methods compliment tissue histopathological studies.

Academic Activities and Research

Academic activities in Transplant Pathology are extended to all levels of training in pathology, medicine and transplant surgery by microscopy, clinicopathological conferences and didactic lectures, as well as through departmental and programmatic research collaborations particularly in the study of the progression of allograft fibrosis in chronic rejection.

Transplant Liver Pathology

Distinguishing acute cellular rejection and recurrent chronic hepatitis C virus infection in a liver transplant biopsy

Transplant Renal Pathology

Features of acute antibody-mediated rejection

Peritubular capillaritis is present in acute antibody- mediated rejection

Glomerulitis is present in acute antibody- mediated rejection

Art by Danielle Dobbs