INTRODUCTION

The Department Of Pathology, Govt.Thoothukudi Medical College and Hospital , comprises of Histopathology, Clinical Pathology and Cytopathology works under the leadership of Prof .Dr.Arasi Rajesh, MD., Currently we are having 4 Associate Professors, 4 Assistant Professors and 6 Tutors. It gained the medical college status from Head Quarters Govt Hospital in the year 1999 with the student strength of 100 , since 2014 the strength has increased to 150 . The Department of Pathology comprises Histopathology lab which is located in the college campus and Clinical Pathology and Cytopathology lab located in the hospital campus.

HISTOPATHOLOGY LABORATORY :

Our Department Of Pathology located in the ground floor of faculty block in Thoothukudi Medical College campus which works from 10 am – 4 pm .

We have three service labs ,two practical laboratories for MBBS and paramedical students .Also we have a grossing room and library .

We have museum and research lab located in the first floor of faculty block .

In the GROSSING ROOM , we are doing gross examination and sampling of the small biopsies, excision biopsies , radical procedure specimens , autopsy specimens received from various departments of Thoothukudi Medical College and Hospital and also from district head quarters hospital , taluk hospitals and PHCs in and around Thoothukudi District.

We are receiving approximately 3000 – 4000 histopathology specimens annually.

In our HISTOPATHOLOGY LAB , We are facilitated with automated tissue processor for processing the Histopathology specimens and three semi automated microtomes for cutting the paraffin blocks .

We have trained technicians who process the samples we take in the grossing room , embed and cut sections from the paraffin blocks and do Haematoxylin and Eosin staining of the sections .

The Professor , Associate Professors , Assistant Professors are involved in reporting of histopathology cases under standard protocols to aid the physician and surgeons in delivering quality health care to the patients . We are reporting around 400 malignancy cases annually, ensuring that we diagnose and prognosticate the malignancies for timely delivery of chemotherapy and radiotherapy . We are maintaining the cancer register and update monthly statistics to state cancer registry under DME .

We are preserving the paraffin blocks and histopathology slides for 10 years .

We are also performing special stains like PAS, PERLS , VANGIESON ,RETICULIN AND GMS .

MUSEUM :

In our museum we are having 481 specimens . We maintain the specimens and the catalogues and make sure we update them from time to time .We utilize the specimens in teaching the students about various pathologies covering all the systems of the body and for examination purpose.

We are fully equipped with monocular microscopes , haemoglobinometers ,neubauer chambers and various chemicals , sera for carrying out urine and blood examinations for academic purposes of MBBS and paramedical students .

Library:

In our department library we are having totally 187 books of various foreign authours and Indian authors covering various systems which helps us both in reporting and for teaching the students.

Clinical pathology :

We are having clinical pathology lab in central laboratory block of hospital campus which works round the clock. We are equipped with six three part automated hematological analysers , automated urine analyser , automated esr machine . We are running 3.5 lakhs to 4 lakhs specimens annually .

The Professor , Associate Professors , Assistant Professors are involved in reporting of hematology cases under standard protocols to aid the physician and surgeons in delivering quality health care to the patients

All the machines are under annual maintenance and periodical calibrations which help us to maintain our reporting standards. Strict adherence to accuracy and precision are maintained by meticulous and regular scrutiny by internal quality control.

We have also enrolled our lab under the EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSURANCE,

EQAS

We are doing Urine Analysis , Semen Analysis , Complete Blood Count , Peripheral Smear Examination , Reticulocyte Count , Bone Marrow Examination And Tests For Evaluation Of Anemia And Leukemia .

CYTOPATHOLOGY :

We are having separate room for Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology with couch and emergency medicines.

We are doing fine needle aspiration cytology and fluid cytology examination for 1800- 2000 cases annually. And also we are receiving 1000- 1500 cervical smears (PAP smears) from Gynaecology Department . The Professor , Associate Professors , Assistant Professors are involved in timely reporting of cytology cases under standard protocols to help the surgeons decide on treatment protocols.

ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES:

1 ) MBBS:

In our department we are teaching 150 II year MBBS students yearly .

We are having regular theory classes and practical classes in the afternoon session .

We are conducting integrated teaching programs with both clinical and non clinical departments .

We are also conducting quiz programs periodically .

2) PARAMEDICAL COURSES :

In the forenoon session ,We are teaching DMLT and BSc MLT students in clinical pathology lab , cytopathology lab and histopathology lab . We are having theory classes and practical classes in the afternoon session .

Through internship training we ensure they pass out with practical knowledge of doing various test and also processing of histopathology specimens .we are also teaching pathology for BSc OT and RT students .