Yale Breast Pathology

The Breast Pathology Service at Yale School of Medicine engages in clinical service, translational research, and teaching. The Breast Pathology Service emphasizes on providing state of the art diagnosis and biomarker testing in a timely manner.

The Breast Pathology Service supports a large volume of cases that include 2000 breast biopsies and 1000 mastectomy specimens annually. We are supported by outstanding immunohistochemistry and molecular pathology laboratories for providing an accurate diagnosis and for biomarker testing. Our average turnaround time for rush biopsies is two days, including ancillary receptor studies.

Board-certified pathologists have breast subspecialty expertise and interpret challenging breast cases daily. In addition, we review difficult diagnoses at a daily consensus conference.

In addition to a more complete detailed pathology report than is typically provided, which includes information about traditional pathologic factors such as tumor stage and ER, PR, and HER2 status in breast cancers, additional sophisticated molecular tests are available if required. As we move closer to the era of targeted therapy, each individual patient’s tumor, with its own unique signature, can be investigated by gene expression profiling here at Yale. The breast faculty serves as expert consultants for cross-specialty consultations within the department for complex cases. Complex and challenging breast cases are discussed at the multidisciplinary breast tumor board, where experts from various specialties from Smilow Cancer Hospital, surgeons, radiologists, and oncologists meet to review treatment options.

We also provide consultative diagnostic services within the state of Connecticut and outside, including internationally.

The Breast Pathology Service has a varied and diverse interest in both clinical and research fields. Several opportunities exist for scholarly research projects with our clinical collaborators and within the department for translational or basic research.

At the translational level, several of our members are actively involved in the Rimm Lab, led by David Rimm, MD, PhD, which focuses on quantitative pathology using AQUA technology using breast tissue microarrays and whole sections.

Opportunities to participate in basic research are provided by the Stern Lab, led by David Stern, PhD.

The faculty in Breast Pathology are committed to subspecialty training of pathology residents and fellows. The Department of Pathology offers a highly competitive Breast one-year fellowship that is comprehensive and focused on a multidisciplinary approach in patient care. The faculty is actively engaged in breast pathology didactics, "unknown" conferences, and breast journal clubs that are attended by residents, fellows and attendings across specialties. Two multidisciplinary conferences (Breast Clinical lecture series and Breast Tumor Board) are held every week and are attended by specialists involved in patient care.

Some of the faculty are course developers at the Yale School of Medicine and are actively involved in recruitment of lecturers for medical student teaching. We welcome visiting pathologists, both national and international, to participate in educational activities for periods ranging from a month to a year.