Histopathology Laboratory at King's College Hospital

Laboratory overview

Histopathology is a core diagnostic pathology service that involves the study of tissue structures in disease process and plays a major role in cancer diagnosis and patient management. 

The Synnovis Histopathology laboratories provide a comprehensive tissue diagnostic service to hospitals networked within the Southeast London Cancer network and local general practitioners. It serves the regional cancer centre and is also a national and international referral centre for expert opinion. The specialist diagnostic and scientific teams aim to deliver a high-quality service with cutting edge diagnostic techniques through close links with the genetics and molecular diagnostics department. Multidisciplinary team meetings (MDM) are held across sites enabling close integration of clinical teams and specialist pathologists.

Histopathology is a core diagnostic pathology service that involves the study of tissue structures in disease process and plays a major role in cancer diagnosis and patient management. 

All investigative tissue samples from theatre operations, clinics and various other internal and external sources are sent to the department for diagnosis.  The laboratory acts as an Essential Services laboratory and samples are sent to the Blackfriars Hub laboratory for processing. A Mohs service is also provided from the KCH site.

Key features:

We play a key role in patient care, as well as in basic science and clinical research by forging intellectual links between diagnostic services and basic sciences.

We specialise in: 

• Surgical Pathology and its Specialties
• Breast Pathology
• Dermatopathology
• Endocrine Pathology
• Gastrointestinal Pathology
• Genitourinary Pathology
• Gynaecological Pathology
• Haematopathology

Diagnostic Cytology:

The Diagnostic Cytology Unit under Histopathology at King's College Hospital processes approximately 3,500 diagnostic samples per year, which include fluid specimens, brush specimens and Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) Cytology. The laboratory working hours are 9am to 5:30 pm, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays). The Unit also provides a FNA service at clinics co-ordinated by hospital clinicians.