Hematopathology

This service is responsible for the diagnostic evaluation of all lymph node biopsies, bone marrow specimens and evaluation of other tissues in which a lymphoma is suspected.  The cases evaluated originate at JMH, UMHC/Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Miami Veterans Administration Hospital.  Two hematopathologists provide these services, Dr. Gerald E. Byrne, Jr. and Dr. Clarence C. Whitcomb.  The majority of the tissue specimens submitted to this service from the 3 institutions mentioned are received unfixed which allows for special tissue handling.  Touch preparations are performed and routine formalin processing and special cytologic fixatives are used to provide excellent histologic material.  Tissue is routinely prepared for flow cytometric analysis, molecular diagnostic analysis and cytogenetic analysis, and snap frozen tissue is submitted to the Hematopathology Tumor Bank for use in IRB approved research projects.

The bone marrow specimens from all three institutions are evaluated centrally in the JMH Bone Marrow Laboratory.  This laboratory is staffed by 2 medical technologists who prepare peripheral blood smears and bone marrow aspirate smears at the bedside and prepare samples for flow cytometric analysis, molecular diagnostic analysis and cytogenetic study.  Routine 200-400 cell differential counts are prepared in each case, and biopsy specimens prepared with a special cytologic fixative are available in 95% of the cases.  The quality of the histologic material is excellent.  The Hematopathology Service analyzes 3000 peripheral blood smears, 1200 tissue specimens and 650 bone marrow specimens yearly.

Please visit our listing of available tests.

There is a team of pathologists specialized in Hematopathology at the University of Miami. All of them are certified by the American Board of Pathology in Anatomic and/or Clinical Pathology.

Faculty:

Byrne, Gerald E., Jr., M.D., , Director, Hematopathology

Whitcomb, Clarence, M.D.

Contact us at:

Division of Hematopathology

Phone: (305) 585-7242
Fax: (305) 585-1064
E-mail: gbyrne@med.miami.edu

Mailing Address for Specimens/Consult Slides - Forward specimens by courier or express mail to:

Division of Hematopathology
Department ofPathology
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
1611 NW 12th Avenue
JMH Holtz Center, Room #2053
Miami, Florida  33136