The Head and Neck and Cardiothoracic Pathology subspecialty
service is dedicated to diagnostic excellence in areas of tumors,
non-neoplastic diseases, and transplant pathology. Techniques that are available at UC San Diego
Health include immunohistochemical studies (including predictive markers such
as PD-L1), direct and indirect immunofluorescence, fluorescence in situ
hybridization, electron microscopy, and molecular studies.
In the Head and Neck area, our specimens include lesions
from the oral cavity (including lip biopsies for Sjogren’s disease evaluation
and mucosal biopsies for direct immunofluorescence assays), oropharynx,
nasopharynx, nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, maxillofacial bones (including
odontogenic lesions), hypopharynx, larynx, thyroid gland, parathyroid glands,
salivary glands, neck lymph nodes, ear, and skin from the head and neck region. We also perform electron microscopy for
evaluation of cilia from respiratory mucosa.
In the Cardiothoracic area, our specimens include neoplastic
and non-neoplastic heart disease (including native heart biopsies with electron
microscopy), neoplastic and non-neoplastic lung diseases (including
interstitial lung disease and Next Generation Sequencing for lung cancer),
pleural pathology, and mediastinal pathology (including thymus). We also have a busy transplant service
examining heart and lung explants and allograft biopsies. Please also see the UC San Diego Pathology
Laboratory and Genomic Medicine area for further information regarding the
Cardiomyopathy Next Generation Sequencing Panel.
We are available for consultation on all aspects of Head and
Neck and Cardiothoracic Pathology.
Meet The Faculty:
Grace Y. Lin, M.D., Ph.D., Director of Head and Neck and
Cardiothoracic Pathology Service
Omonigho Aisagbonhi M.D., Ph.D.
Jingjing Hu M.D., Ph.D.
Li Lei M.D., Ph.D.
Maryam Pezhouh, M.D., M.Sc.
Hana M. Russo, M.D., Ph.D.
Ahmed Shabaik, M.D.
Vera Vavinskaya, M.D.