The Pediatric Pathology Service at Johns Hopkins was established in 1990 and has grown to include six key members, each with nationally recognized expertise. Our collaboration with intra- and extra-departmental specialists in a broad range of subjects and techniques offers the most accurate diagnosis to benefit patients and their families. Testing to confirm genetic abnormalities, which is is also available, may provide comfort to families. Additionally, we receive many consults through our affiliation with the Pediatric Oncology Group (POG), a multi-institutional, therapeutic trials organization.

Expert consultation

Dr. Frederic Askin, director of Surgical Pathology, is an internationally recognized expert in pediatric pulmonary disease and in pediatric neoplasms. (Please see Pulmonary Pathology for bio.) Dr. Askin has served for many years as the Children's Cancer Group review pathologist for Ewing's sarcomas.

Dr. Grover M. Hutchins, former director of Autopsy Pathology, with a subspecialty in pediatric pathology, provides expertise in evaluating congenital anomalies, particularly congenital heart disease. His extraordinarily broad background in autopsy pathology offers physicians an internationally recognized, unparalleled resource. (Please see Autopsy Service for bio.)

Dr. Peter Burger, director of the neuropathology consult service and author of several widely consulted texts on central nervous system tumors, is a recognized expert in pediatric brain tumors. This expertise is reflected in his years of involvement as the POG's review pathologist for all brain tumors. (See Neuropathology for bio.)

Dr. Michael Borowitz, director of Hematopathology, is an internationally known expert in pediatric hematologic malignancies. He is responsible for the flow cytometric testing of all pediatric acute lymphocytic leukemias registered on POG protocols. (See Neoplastic Hematopathology and Flow Cytometry for bio.)

Dr. Pedram Argani is a pediatric and adult surgical pathologist whose experience in diagnosing soft tissue and embryonal neoplasms through molecular testing provides another important resource. (see Breast Pathology for bio.)

Special capabilities and services

The Service offers access to a variety of specialized tests not readily available at most other medical centers. These include:

• Immunohistochemistry -- used to diagnose a wide variety of tumors and infections such as parvo virus infections in placentas and fetuses and MIC2 analysis for Ewing's sarcoma, among others
• Fluorescence in-situ hybridization -- for trisomies and sex chromosomal changes (X, 13, 18 or 21), and for n-myc amplification in neuroblastomas
• Specialized molecular techniques -- analysis for translocations of many pediatric neoplasms may be performed on frozen or paraffinized tissue and will be available January 1999. These include the translocations of:
  • Ewing's sarcoma/PNET (11;22)
  • synovial sarcoma (X;18)
  • alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (2;13)
  • desmoplastic small round cell tumor (11;22)

Written reports of results for routine light microscopy and for most immunohistochemical stains are faxed to contributors within 2-3 days; faster in an emergency. For specialized molecular techniques, please call to discuss optimal tissue submission and timing of results.

Turnaround time is routinely 24-48 hours for light microscopic evaluation. Material sent for consultation will be returned to contributors within two weeks.

To send laboratory specimens Forward specimens by courier or express mail to: Johns Hopkins Medical Laboratories 600 N. Wolfe Street / Meyer B-130 Baltimore, MD 21287-7070 Fax: (410) 614-0455

To send consult slides Forward slides by courier or express mail to: Johns Hopkins Medical Laboratories 1620 McElderry St. Reed Hall Rm 315 Baltimore, MD 21205 Fax: (410) 614-7712 Phone: (410) 955-2405 / 8am - 5pm (To order tests, confer with faculty or handle processing and billing inquires, please call Customer Service at 1-800-997-5475.)

Standard Specimen Processing

The laboratory provides expert evaluation of pediatric specimens and placentas using light microscopy. Special testing via electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry will be used as appropriate. Studies can be performed on frozen, fresh or fixed tissue, or on blocks or slides prepared elsewhere.