Ophthalmic Pathology Consultations

Enucleation cases from UPMC Community and Children's Hospitals

With all consultations please include a completed Neuropathology Consultation Request Form

Types of Specimens Accepted

  • Glass slides/blocks of ocular tissues
  • Formalin-fixed corneas
  • Formalin-fixed enucleation specimens
  • Formalin-fixed eyes removed at autopsy

Tissues obtained for evaluation of blistering diseases (pemphigoid, OCP, etc.) should be sent to Dermatopathology.  We do not perform diagnostic immunofluorescence.  See below for instructions.

Please provide the following information:

  • Clinical history, including procedure/treatment, location and clinical appearance of the lesion
  • Copies of previous surgical pathology reports
  • Name, phone number and secure email, if available, of the treating ophthalmologist 
  • Billing information and/or patient demographics

Turnaround time for glass slides or blocks is generally 6-8 days, longer if special stains are required.

Enucleated eyeballs should be allowed to fix intact in 10% buffered formalin for 24 hours before sending. Specimens submitted in formalin will typically be evaluated by the second Wednesday after receipt.  The specimen should be securely packaged to prevent leaks. 

All glass slides/blocks or formalin-fixed tissues (please do not send tissues in saline) should be sent to:

UPMC Neuropathology Consult Services
Presbyterian University Hospital
Room S701 Scaife Hall
200 Lothrop Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Phone: (412) 624-9415
Fax: (412) 624-5610

For rule out OCP and other blistering diseases: These require biopsy including the bullous (lesional) area for H&E in formalin and a second biopsy of perilesional (right next to bulla) area in Zeus’ or Michel’s fixative.  Please contact Dermatopathology 412-864-3860 or 412-864-3861 in advance of performing the biopsy.  The specimen should be sent directly to Dermatopathology at the following address.

Dermatopathology
Medical Arts Building
5th Floor - Suite 500.11
3705 5th Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213