Breast Pathology

The Breast Pathology Division at UT Southwestern Medical Center has dedicated faculty with diagnostic expertise in neoplastic and non-neoplastic pathologies of the breast. The group is composed of fellowship trained faculty with decades of experience in breast pathology.

The service covers two major hospitals, a 400+ bed private hospital (William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital) and a 900+ bed safety net hospital (Parkland Hospital), which provide a wealth of very interesting and challenging cases that cover the entire spectrum of breast diseases with a balanced distribution of benign and malignant diseases. To facilitate patient care, we have a fast turnaround time for core biopsies including the completion of tumor biomarkers (within 24-48 hours). Operative resection specimens have a 3- to 5-day turnaround time. Many of our cases are complex with almost half of the cancer resection specimens having prior neoadjuvant therapy.

The breast pathology team works closely with the breast oncology and breast radiology teams. The group shares complex and interesting pathology cases at our weekly conference attended by our residents, breast pathology fellow, and any rotating surgical oncology or breast radiology fellows. Our monthly radiology-pathology correlation conference is well attended by faculty and trainees from both the pathology and radiology department. Our faculty and breast fellow plays an active role in presenting at the weekly multidisciplinary tumor board conference where selected cases are discussed by members from breast radiology, genetics, and surgical-, medical- and radiation oncology.

In addition to clinical service, our team actively participates in clinical and translational research and teaches medical students, pathology residents, pathology fellows, and clinical fellows. Our breast pathology fellowship was established in 2011. We have trained many fellows who are currently practicing and are the lead breast pathologist in their practices. The large volume of interesting and complex cases, a dynamic 24-hour Histology and Immunohistochemical laboratory, as well as a Cytogenetic and NGS Laboratory not only makes the service run smoothly but also provides a unique opportunity to get solid training in breast pathology.