The Role of the Cytopathologist in the Frontline of Genomics Laboratory

Course overview

The main role of the cytopathologist is to provide an accurate diagnosis and to report the baseline expression of prognostic and predictive biomarkers to guide clinicians for optimal therapeutic strategies. The incorporation of molecular techniques to refine diagnosis and specially to detect molecular alterations related to the therapy are a reality in most laboratories. These alterations are important not only in the moment of the diagnosis but also in the progression of disease. Pre-analytical factors can affect the quality of these tests, and the involvement of the cytopathologist in the acquisition of the specimen is essential and related to better quality of the material analysed. This webinar will address the role of the cytopathologist in all major steps in the management of cancer patients, from the sample of the material in the FNA clinic until the final interpretation of the molecular tests in the context of the morphology in a multidisciplinary approach. Fernando Schmitt, MD, PhD, FIAC Professor of Pathology IPATIMUP and Medical Faculty of Porto University Porto, Portugal