Overview

The Division of Anatomic Pathology is one of eight divisions in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic. The mission of Anatomic Pathology is to provide the highest quality clinical service, research and education, but our patient care activities are always our first priority.

The Division of Anatomic Pathology includes a number of areas. In Minnesota, frozen section laboratories are located near the operating suites at Mayo Clinic Hospital, Saint Marys Campus, Mayo Clinic Hospital, Methodist Campus, and Gonda outpatient surgery to facilitate rapid examination of surgical specimens. By using a unique frozen section technique, rapid diagnoses can be made allowing for immediate decisions regarding intraoperative and postoperative patient management. Outpatient biopsies obtained at Mayo Clinic are sent directly to the Hilton Building for processing in the histology laboratory. Many of these cases are available the same day they are received, and others are processed overnight.

Pathology specimens from Mayo Clinic patients account for about 60 percent of the clinical care activities. The remaining cases are received from other institutions around the world and comprise our extramural consultation practice.

Division faculty members publish many manuscripts each year (not including abstracts or editorials). These studies include state-of-the-art ancillary tests, such as immunohistochemical and molecular techniques. Division of Anatomic Pathology staff consultants also author or co-author numerous book chapters and textbooks.

Mission Statement

Anatomic Pathology strives to be an international leader by functioning as a team whose members are committed to:

  • Providing the highest quality pathology patient services in an efficient and cost-effective manner first.
  • Achieving excellence in our educational activities in the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and our continuing medical education for pathology and nonpathology colleagues.
  • Continuously engaging in academic and diagnostic activities that broaden the expertise of our own faculty and expand our understanding of human disease and the discipline of pathology.