Diagnostic services:
These include routine diagnostic reports on surgical pathology and cytology specimens. Specialized and comprehensive reporting of tumors of all sizes and types, renal, bone marrow, liver and skin biopsies meet the highest standards of reporting with availability of all specialized techniques. The Department is privileged to have the only Diagnostic Electron microscopy facility in the country which is invaluable in diagnosis of renal and skin diseases and as an adjunct in tumor diagnosis. Participation in urgent reporting on FNAC’s for the one-stop breast clinic and frozen section facility for intra-operative consultation enable real- time decision making for patient management. Second opinions are provided on referred material from other government hospitals and healthcare centers around Oman.
Teaching:
Faculty members and biomedical scientists are actively engaged in teaching students of the following degree programmes/courses:
1- M.D Phase I, II, III.
2- B. Sc MLS program
3- Histopathology residents of Oman Medical Specialty Board
4- Training of Omani BMS on request by the Directorate of Training SQUH.
5- Supervision of MD students' research
6- Training in EM techniques
Facilities:
The Department provides comprehensive diagnostic facilities through the following sections:
- HistoPathology:
This section includes documentation, grossing, and processing of surgical specimens to generate stained tissue sections for biopsy reporting. A battery of special histochemical stains provides adjunctive information. Frozen section procedures enable critical intraoperative consultation for critical decision-making in-patient management. Macro- and microphotographic facilities provide archiving of interesting cases and enrich presentations and publication efforts.
- Cytology:
The department processes around 4000 cytology specimens annually split between gyne cytology (thin prep) and non-gyne cytology. Experienced cytotechnologists provide rapid on-site assessment (ROSA) in the radiology department for adequacy check of fine needle aspirates.
- Immunohistochemistry and molecular pathology:
The department offers a comprehensive range of immunohistochemical stains, immunofluorescence for renal and skin biopsies and enzyme histochemistry techniques for nerve and muscle biopsies. Our biomedical scientists are highly trained with experience in international centers. Molecular pathology includes in situ hybridization as well as immunostains for various molecular markers such as ALK and PD-L1. The department also receives many requests from other hospitals for various markers and for validation.
- Electron microscopy:
This is regarded as a University wide core facility and is a one of its kind in Oman. It is heavily involved in research but also provides regular diagnostic services to SQUH and other hospitals with a workload of around 350 samples a year. Electron microscopists routinely process and screen renal, cilia, blood, nerve and muscle biopsies for ultrastructural examination.
- Mortuary:
The mortuary provides facility for storage of bodies and embalming. No autopsies are performed.