ADDRESS

INSTITUTE OF PATHOLOGICAL ANATOMY – VIA A. GABELLI N.61 – 35121 PADOVA

DIRECTOR
Prof.ssa Fiorella Calabrese

DIAGNOSTIC ACTIVITY

The anatomopathologists of the thoracic pathology section have many years of experience in histopathologic diagnosis of a wide spectrum of thoracic diseases, both neoplastic and non-neoplastic. They represent a national and international reference center for a number of diseases such as pulmonary interstitiopathies (especially idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, sarcoidosis exposure-related pathologies (malignant mesothelioma of the pleura, asbestosis, silicosis, berylliosis), lung tumors (epithelial and nonepithelial), mediastinal tumors (especially those of the thymus), and transplant lung diseases. The diagnostic approach to these pathologies is based on weekly discussions within a multidisciplinary team involving colleagues from clinical (such as pulmonology, oncology, respiratory pathophysiology) and surgical (particularly thoracic surgery) OUs. Archiving of tissues and other biological specimens in a biobank is also implemented for most of the pathologies studied, subject to the patient's informed consent and entry of the clinical-morphological information in a special database on the RedCap platform. For many pathologies, digitalized preparations correlated with appropriate clinical-pathological information are also available.

Italian and/or international quality certification:

The UOC is UNI EN ISO 9001: 2008, no.5871/aq CERTIQUALITY certified for quality management of diagnostics and research.

Histopathological and molecular diagnostics of non-small cell lung cancer (adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma) will use European EQA Lung certification from 2022.

Main technologies/approaches:

- Morphological investigations (histological and immunohistochemical)

- Molecular investigations (PCR, Real-Time PCR, Next-Generation Sequencing)

- Electron microscopy investigations

- Management activities of the thoracic biobank

RESEARCH ACTIVITY

Research activity is directed toward the study of morphological and molecular aspects of numerous thoracic diseases, particularly pulmonary interstitiopathies, pulmonary and pleural neoplasms (especially malignant mesothelioma), and thymic tumors. In this area, the Italian Association for Research in Lung Pathologies - A.I.R.P.P. (http://www.airpp.it), a non-profit association established in 2012, collaborates with researchers from the Thoracic Pathology team in order to promote scientific research through educational/dissemination programs (e.g., in schools), to establish scholarships for deserving young people, and to organize/support scientific events.

National and international major collaborations:

1.     CHRU de Strasbourg, Strasbourg (France)
2.     Hôpital Marie Lannelongue, Le Plessis Robinson, Paris (France)
3.     Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen (Denmark)
4.     Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver (USA)
5.     Singapore General Hospital, Singapore (Republic of Singapore)
6.     University of Iowa Health Care, Iowa City, Iowa (USA)
7.     UCLA - University of California, Los Angeles, California (USA)
8.     Weill Cornell Medicine, New York (USA)
9.     Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York (USA)
10.     Medical University of Vienna, Vienna (Austria)
11.     Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A., Parma (Italy)
12.     Pisa University Hospital, Pisa (Italy)
    
13.     Medical University of Gra, Graz (Austria)
14.     University of Coimbr, Coimbra (Portugal)
15.     Riga Stradins University Faculty of Medicine, Riga (Latvia)

The Section of Thoraco-Pulmonary Pathology at the Department of Cardio-Thoracic and Vascular Sciences and Public Health at the University of Padova has been recognized by the European Society of Pathology as an Advanced Educational Center (Advanced Training Center) for study and research in this field. This recognition will result, starting next January, in young research pathologists from different parts of Europe staying in Padova to work on specific projects in the thoraco-pulmonary field under the supervision of Professor Fiorella Calabrese. The young researchers will be selected on the basis of their curriculum and will have a specific Grant (Giordano fellowship).

TEACHING HALL

• Aula Cagnetto (Floor 0) management assigned to the School of Medicine
• Aula Esercitazioni microscopiche (Floor -1) exclusive management of the DSCTV and DIMED Lecturers of Pathological Anatomy
• Library (Floor 0)

LABORATORIES
Campus Bimedico Pietro D'Abano - Via Giuseppe Orus, 2b, 35131 Padova (PD)