In this section
This user guide details information for the requesting of investigations, specimen requirements and communication of results for the department of Adult Histopathology at Oxford Road (ORC) and the department of Histopathology and at Wythenshawe Hospital. Please see the separate user guide for Paediatric Histopathology and cytology including diagnostic cytology.
The Adult Histopathology department at ORC is situated in Clinical Sciences Building 1 at Manchester Royal Infirmary whilst our Cellular Pathology department at Wythenshawe is located on the ground floor of the Clinical Sciences Building at Wythenshawe Hospital. Both form part of the wider Department of Cellular Pathology.
Both sites provide comprehensive services to Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust including the Greater and Southern Manchester area, General Practitioners, Dental Practitioners and also provide specialist tertiary referral and opinion on a regional and national basis.
We offer the following histopathology diagnostic services with consultant sub-specialist reporting:
- Gynaecological pathology
- Gastrointestinal, pancreaticobiliary and hepatic pathology
- Renal, urological and endocrine pathology
- Haematological and lymphoreticular pathology
- Osteoarticular and soft tissue pathology
- Head and neck pathology
- Dermatopathology
- Cardiothoracic and respiratory pathology -Please note that with the exception of EBUS clinic samples all cardiothoracic and respiratory specimens should be sent to Wythenshawe Histopathology
- Ophthalmic pathology
- Breast pathology
Both sites are supported by our Immunohistochemistry, Electron Microscopy, Cellular Pathology Genomics Centre and Research services.
The histology department at Manchester Royal Infirmary also incorporates the Haematological Cancer Diagnostics (HCD) in partnership with the Christie, which is a Specialist Integrated Haematological Malignancy Diagnostic Service (SIHMDS) for the Greater Manchester area. This service is accredited by NHS England and its director is Dr John Burthem.
Autopsies are carried out by our Consultant Histopathologists, Specialist Doctors and Trainee Histopathologists within the adjacent Adult Mortuary. Further information can be found on the Adult Mortuary user guide or by contacting the relevant consultant pathologist.
Our departments deal with approximately 75,000 surgical cases (35,000 at ORC and 40,000 at Wythenshawe) and around 1200 autopsies on behalf of HM Coroner annually. Our combined departments comprise of around 150 medical, scientific and ancillary staff and has an excellent reputation for clinical and scientific training. The ST1 Training School, which was opened in 2005, offers entry to run-through training for high quality entrants to the Histopathology specialist training scheme of the Northwest Deanery. We also have IBMS training status and support local universities in the training of Biomedical Science students.
(Last reviewed August 2025)