Fellowship in Tumor Pathology

Overview

The Fellowship in Tumour Pathology course is designed to train post-MD/DNB Pathology students in the approach to oncopathology, emphasizing the multidisciplinary team approach in the treatment of cancer, with the oncopathologist playing a vital role in the team, providing accurate diagnoses and critical prognostic & predictive information. Rigorous, practical on-the-job training combined with didactic teaching, multidisciplinary tumour board meetings, journal clubs, slide seminars, subject seminars and gross discussions will prepare Fellows to work independently in an Oncology set-up anywhere. Attendance of state/national conferences is encouraged and at least ONE poster / oral presentation during the course is compulsory.

Course Objectives:

i) Emphasise the need to gross big surgical specimens according to guidelines so that synoptic reports(like CAP or RCPath) can be generated ,providing accurate pathological staging (pTN) and adequate prognostic information.
ii) Improve diagnostic skills, emphasizing descriptive report writing. Emphasise the need to keep a differential diagnosis list based on morphology.
Iii) Immunohistochemistry-based panels to be used to refine diagnoses. The value of appropriate panels, additional markers, use of positive and negative controls, quality control measures will be emphasized. Prognostic & predictive markers in different sites e.g. breast will be highlighted.
iv) Companion diagnostics like PD-L1immunostaining and complementary diagnostics like Mismatch Repair IHC.
v) Training in frozen section reporting for primary diagnosis, margins etc. and other aspects of intraoperative consultation such as squash preparations, scrape smears and intraoperative FNAs.
vi) Haematology- To ensure quality control of the automated haematology analyser and verify flagged results by smear
vii) Interpretation of peripheral smears, bone marrow aspiration and bone marrow biopsy including IHC when indicated
viii) Flow cytometry in the diagnosis of acute and chronic leukemia/lymphoma involving marrow
ix) Familiarity with Molecular tests in the diagnosis of haematological malignancies
x) Fine needle aspiration cytology: routine and ultrasound/ CT-guided- practice and interpretation. The use of cell blocks for IHC /FISH will be highlighted as well as the guidelines for reporting in different sites.
xi) Fluid & gynaec cytology reporting
xii) Expose and familiarise Fellows to newer techniques such as FISH, NGS, RT-PCR, clonality assays that are adjuncts to morphology and diagnosis.
xiii) Foster interest in research, write-up of small projects, publish interesting case reports

Eligibility

Applicant should have done MD/ DNB (Pathology).

Minimum Education