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INFORMATION FOR

Yale Thoracic Pathology

The Yale Thoracic Pathology Service specializes in analysis of tissue obtained from the thorax, including lungs, trachea, and chest wall, for evaluation for neoplastic (e.g. lung cancer, mesothelioma, other tumors) conditions as well as specific non-neoplastic conditions (inflammatory lung disease, including specific infections and fibrotic (scarring) diseases of the lung). The Service includes evaluation of prognostic features relative to tumor immunotherapy (PD-L1 expression levels).

Clinical Service

The Yale Thoracic Pathology Service specializes in analysis of tissue obtained from the thorax, including lungs, trachea, and chest wall, for evaluation for neoplastic (e.g. lung cancer, mesothelioma, other tumors) conditions as well as specific non-neoplastic conditions (inflammatory lung disease, including specific infections and fibrotic (scarring) diseases of the lung). The Service includes evaluation of prognostic features relative to tumor immunotherapy (PD-L1 expression levels).

Diseases and conditions include but are not limited to: lung cancer, interstitial lung disease, lung fibrosis, occupational lung disease, chronic extrinsic hypersensitivity pneumonitis, early lung cancer, screening detected cancers, small cell carcinoma, neuroendocrine carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, bronchial biopsies, thoracoscopic biopsies, mesothelioma, thymoma, sarcoidosis, emphysema, asthma, airways diseases, immunohistochemistry.

Services and Expertise

Diseases and conditions include but are not limited to: lung cancer, interstitial lung disease, lung fibrosis, occupational lung disease, chronic extrinsic hypersensitivity pneumonitis, early lung cancer, screening detected cancers, small cell carcinoma, neuroendocrine carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, bronchial biopsies, thoracoscopic biopsies, mesothelioma, thymoma, sarcoidosis, emphysema, asthma, airways diseases, immunohistochemistry.

Research

Drs. Homer and Zhang have had a long-standing interest in interstitial lung disease and animal models of lung disease. Dr. Cai works on translational research including molecular markers of lung cancer.

Current Projects:

  • Molecular profiling of fibrotic lung disease in context of morphologic analysis (with Naftali Kaminski)
  • Diagnostic criteria for neuroendocrine tumors of the lung
  • Analysis of genetically engineered mouse models of lung cancer (with Katie Politi)
  • Immune profiling of lung cancer (Kurt Schalper)
  • Adequacy of cytology specimens for molecular analysis (Cai)
  • Adequacy of cryobiopsies for evaluation of interstitial lung disease (Homer)

Education & Training

Yale Thoracic Pathology provides training for the Pathology Residency Program.