In this section
This section details information for the requesting of investigations, specimen requirements and communication of results for the department of Paediatric Histopathology. Paediatric Histopathology is situated on the 4th floor of the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.
Our department deals with approximately 4,000 surgical cases and around 400 autopsies annually. Our department comprises approximately over 27 medical, scientific and ancillary staff. We have IBMS training status and support local universities in the training of Biomedical Science students.
We are committed to providing a high quality and timely regional histopathology service and contribute to the HM Coroner’s service.
Services offered
The laboratory offers a full range of histopathology techniques for children. These include:
- Routine diagnostic histopathology: Renal biopsies (native and transplant), Gastrointestinal biopsies and resections, skin biopsies and excisions, Bone Marrow trephines, Placentas.
- Tumour biopsies and resections
- Rapid frozen section service for rectal suction biopsies in cases of suspected Hirschsprung’s disease
- Intraoperative diagnosis for a range of clinical scenarios: Hirschsprung’s disease and Congenital hyperinsulism
- Enzyme histochemistry, including muscle histochemistry
- Immunohistochemistry
- Fluorescent In Situ Hybridisation (FISH) for soft tissue tumours and neuroblastomas (turnaround time of 3-4 days)
- Immunofluorescence for Renal Biopsies
- Immunofluorescence for Skin Biopsies
- Electron microscopy via the electron microscopy suite in Clinical Sciences Building
- Molecular diagnostics (turnaround time 3-7 days) via Genetics 6th floor St Mary’s
- Non-gynae cytology – we perform a limited range of tests: to detect the presence of malignant cells, eosinophils, lipid or haemosiderin laden macrophages within fluid samples from paediatric patients. Please note we do not perform cell counts.
(Last reviewed May 2023)