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 bottom for instructions.

 

Effective March 1, 2024: All consultations involving formalin-fixed (wet) specimens will be direct billed to the submitting institution at a fee of $550 (includes professional and technical). Please submit a written confirmation with the consultation request form of your acceptance of this charge.
 
 
 
 
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

Turnaround time for glass slides or blocks is generally 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
            Medical Arts Building
            5th Floor - Suite 500.11
            3705 5th Avenue
            Pittsburgh, PA 15213