Department of Pathology

Welcome to the Department of Pathology of Saitama Medical Center. Our mission is to provide the highest quality of patient care through the evaluation and consultation on patient specimens by integrating cutting-edge technology with our extensive specialty resources. We are committed to innovation for improved outcomes and scientific discovery and to educating future pathologists using state-of-the-art technologies and resources.

Patient care is at the forefront of our mission. Pathological diagnosis plays a major role in the patient care and is mainly based on microscopic findings obtained by examining tissues and cells from patients. We specialize in the diagnosis of human malignant tumors, benign tumors, and non-neoplastic diseases. Our clinical tasks are largely divided into four parts: pathological examination, consultation, education, and research.

One of our key services is histological diagnosis, which involves removing a small portion of a lesion from a patient and examining it under a microscope. This examination, known as a biopsy, allows us to determine the type and stage of a tumor and develop a treatment plan. In recent years, pathological specimens have been used to determine the effectiveness of molecular target therapeutic agents, making the importance of pathological diagnosis even greater.

Another service we offer is cytology, a diagnostic method that involves observing cells that have been naturally shed or aspirated from a patient. Cytology is a less invasive method than biopsy and allows for repeated collection of cells. Most cytology specimens are evaluated by certified cytotechnologists, and certified cytopathologists make a diagnosis when a malignant tumor is suspected.

Our hospital also provides cancer genomic medicine, which involves analyzing genetic abnormalities in patient tissue to determine an appropriate therapy. We work closely with other clinical departments, including the Department of Clinical Genetics, to provide this cutting-edge service.

Our department is one of the largest general hospitals in Saitama prefecture and examines a large number of patient specimens each year. We have 15 full-time pathologists and 14 medical technologists on staff, and we also invite specialists as part-time staff to consult on difficult cases. We hold clinical conferences with medical staff from clinical departments to ensure the best possible patient care.

Saitama Medical Center in Kawagoe City is one of the central general hospitals in Saitama prefecture. The yearly number of pathological diagnoses, cytology and autopsy is about 12,000, 10,000, and 20-30, respectively. Our department has 15 experts (including 10 certified pathologists, 2 certified oral pathologists, and 3 residents) and 15 medical technologists (including 10 cytotechnologists). We hold clinical conferences with clinicians for better patient care. We also invite specialists to consult on difficult cases.

We also diagnose referred specimens from other medical institutions. We would appreciate your understanding and cooperation when there are requests of the pathological specimens or blocks from your hospitals for pathological consultation.

The main research theme in our department is hematological diseases, including malignant lymphoma. Our strength is that we have well-trained medical technologists in molecular pathology and FISH testing. We are also accepting consultations on malignant lymphoma from other facilities nationwide.

In addition to medical care and research, we also focus on education for students and residents. Residents receive daily consultations from our experienced staff. Recently, all of our residents have passed the annual examination of the Japanese Society of Pathology and continue to work as certified pathologists in our department. We offer a rewarding training program tailored to each resident's needs. If you are interested in our department, please contact us for more information..