Fellowship in Tumour Pathology

1. Grossing of big surgical specimens according to guidelines so that synoptic reports (like CAP or RCPath) can be generated with accurate pathological staging (pTN) and adequate prognostic information.
2. Improve diagnostic skills, emphasizing descriptive report writing.
3. Use of Immunohistochemistry-based panels to refine diagnoses and IHC markers for prediction, prognosis, companion and complementary diagnostics.
4. Training in intraoperative consultation using frozen sections, squash preparations, scrape smears and intraoperative FNAs with ROSE for EBUS / EUS specimens.
5. Fine needle aspiration cytology of routine, ultrasound / CT-guided specimens; use of cell blocks; Fluid & Gynaec cytology – interpretation and reporting as per guidelines.
6. Haematology- Interpretation of peripheral smears, bone marrow aspirations and biopsies, including special stains and IHC.
7. Flow cytometry in the diagnosis of hematolymphoid disorders, CD34 stem cell enumeration, DNA ploidy assay, and Minimal residual disease assay.
8. Exposure to newer techniques such as FISH, NGS, RT-PCR, and clonality assays as adjuncts to morphology and diagnosis of solid tumours/ hematolymphoid malignancies.
9. Exposure to Transfusion Medicine and Blood Centre with respect to oncology.
10. Foster interest in research, write up for small projects, publish interesting case reports, and attend state/national conferences; at least ONE poster / oral presentation during the course is compulsory.
    

At the end of the course, the student is expected to know the following:

1. Histopathology -independent grossing/reporting of surgical specimens; independent intraoperative consultation; finalizing of small biopsy reports; deciding panels of IHC markers/molecular markers to make the final diagnosis.
2. Haematology- Interpretation of peripheral smears, bone marrow aspiration and biopsy including IHC when indicated; Flow cytometry in the diagnosis and prognostication of haematological malignancies; familiarity with molecular tests in diagnosis.
3. Cytology-interpretation of FNAC (routine and ultrasound/ CT-guided); IHC on cell blocks & the guidelines for reporting cytopathology in different sites; Fluid & Gynaec cytology reporting.
4. Molecular pathology tests that are useful in tumours at different sites, prognostic and predictive marker testing, and use of gene panels.
5. Confident reporting of any oncology specimen and ability to discuss relevant points of individual cases with clinical and radiology colleagues.
6. Certain cases may warrant a second opinion- may be obtained from senior colleagues/mentors/external subspecialty experts.
7. Familiarity with the use of Electronic medical records(EMR) and Whole Slide Imaging in pathology diagnosis, teaching and research.