Digital Human Pathology
Services
The Pathology department of the UMC Utrecht performs diagnostic testing of body samples such as tissues (histology) and cells (cytology). Also, autopsies are performed to medical practice to determine and evaluate the cause of death.
In order to assist in the diagnosis additional examination can be done including:
- Immune- and enzyme histochemistry to demonstrate abnormalities of proteins
- Molecular diagnostics to indicate abnormalities in the DNA in order to make a diagnosis and/or determine the sensitivity to a treatment
- Electron Microscopic examination
The Pathology department is home to the Dutch Surveillance Center for Prion Diseases.
Infrastructure
As first university hospital in the world, the department is making the transition to fully digital pathology diagnostics. This not only results in faster diagnosis, it also yields a better interpretation of the images: measurements through the microscope are less accurate than with a computer program on digital images. Furthermore, it enables a more close collaboration with the department of Radiology by combining digital pathological images with digital radiological images. This makes it easier to establish a link between imaging and tissue diagnosis, to determine for example whether a tissue biopsy is representative. This increases the quality of diagnosis and treatment, and thereby improves patient safety.
Contact
Paul van Diest
Digital Human Pathology
UMCU
Department of Pathology
Huispost H04.312
PO Box 85500
3508 GA Utrecht
Phone: +31 88 755 6565
Email: p.j.vandiest@umcutrecht.nl
Website in revision