Diagnostic Pathology

Overview

The Department of Diagnostic Pathology provides comprehensive histopathologic, cytologic, immunohistochemical, and molecular diagnostic services for tissue and cell specimens, supporting accurate diagnosis, treatment planning, and precision medicine across all clinical departments. As an integral member of the multidisciplinary healthcare team, the department plays a central role in patient management through close collaboration with clinicians and surgeons.

Key Strengths at Kobe University Hospital

  • ISO 15189-accredited pathology laboratory, ensuring internationally recognized standards of quality, competence, and reliability.
  • Internationally recognized for its expertise in immunohistochemistry, having contributed to the development, validation, and clinical application of numerous diagnostic biomarkers. One of the few centers capable of performing rapid intraoperative immunohistochemistry, providing real-time diagnostic information during surgery when clinically indicated.
  • Particular expertise in the diagnosis of lymphoma and diseases of the liver, lung, kidney, endocrine organs, and female reproductive system, supported by subspecialty pathologists.
  • Extensive experience in the diagnosis of rare diseases, complex cases, and challenging differential diagnoses referred from across Japan.
  • Close collaboration with surgeons, physicians, radiologists, oncologists, and other specialists through numerous multidisciplinary conferences and tumor boards.
  • Active participation in clinical decision-making by providing integrated clinicopathologic diagnosis and treatment-oriented pathology consultation.
  • A regional digital pathology network connecting affiliated hospitals, enabling efficient case sharing, expert consultation, and subspecialty review.
  • Comprehensive diagnostic support across virtually all organ systems through collaboration with affiliated hospitals and subspecialty experts.
  • Extensive experience in international academic collaboration, including pathology consultation, education, research partnerships, and training of overseas pathologists/technicians.
  • Active involvement in clinical research and translational medicine, facilitating the implementation of new diagnostic technologies into routine practice.

Major Conditions / Services

  • Surgical pathology and biopsy diagnosis
  • Cytology and intraoperative consultation
  • Tumor classification, staging support, and clinicopathologic correlation

Representative Procedures / Programs

  • Histopathology and cytopathology
  • Intraoperative consultation
  • Multidisciplinary diagnostic support for complex and rare cases
Tomoo ITOH, MD, PhD. Professor