Pathology

This component of our operation processes tissue (biopsies, portions of organs, organs, and autopsies) and cytology (cell smears and suspensions) samples so that our pathologists can render diagnoses on which rests all current and future treatments by your personal doctor. Since 1971, we have continued to be the only midlands hospital providing these services on the weekend.

Skin cancer service: hospital inpatients and outpatients and doctors office patients benefit by utilizing a special process developed by our staff so that skin cancers can be removed by local dermatologists, surgeons, and other doctors so as to spare as much skin as possible (such as around the nose and face) while minimizing the amount of time the patient must be kept in surgery. The analysis allows precise removal of more skin, only if it is essential to do so, the next day. This is a clear alternative to the multi-hours, lengthy surgical sessions of Mohs surgery performed at other locations in Columbia and at MUSC in Charleston. If need be, we can also perform those procedures with intra-operative frozen section control. Our analysis also provides precise detail so that superficial radiation therapy can be used when needed (Lexington Medical Center is the only source in the Midlands for providing superficial radiation therapy).

Breast biopsy service: understanding the anxiety women feel, these cases have been processed 6 days per week since 1971. As conservative treatments were nationally announced from researchers in the mid ‘80’s, we began marking specimens for margins (for the option of conservative treatment) in 1986. Hospital inpatients and outpatients benefited more when we instituted next-day faxed reports to surgeons offices in 1987. We refined this into a special program to work with sterotactic and ultrasound guided core biopsies with next-morning reporting to our Breast Center and all-reports copies to our Breast Health Services Coordinator so as to be able to have final pathology diagnoses available within 5 days or less from the day of enrollment in the Breast Services Program. Link to Dr. Shaw's website with information about diagnostic test regarding Breast Biopsy.

Breast FNA service: Benefiting hospital inpatients and outpatients and doctors office patients, we have a goal of same-day diagnosis on these cytology cases. The sample is obtained by your doctor or our pathologist by sticking a very thin needle into the breast lump and drawing out some cells for examination.

Prostate biopsy and cancer service: hospital inpatients and outpatients and doctors office patients have benefited since 1990 by our service which was refined into the the world’s only completely oriented biopsy processing system beginning in 1992. Biopsy diagnoses are faxed to the urologist’s office by noon the next day. Our program has had an outstanding success rate of not only accurate diagnosis but of providing the multiple details needed by patients and urologists in choosing among the numerous treatment options. Diagnosis, positive or negative, is assured over 90 % of the time; and expert consultations are necessary in 1.5 % or less of cases. Our thorough processing of radical prostatectomy specimens is reported not only in classical text fashion but with graphic supplements so that any future treatment modifications can consider the precise details of the cancer status at the time of resection. We have additionally maintained a system of precisely issuing a supplementary graphic report on the biopsies to the radiology department when patients are additionally examined with endorectal-coil MRI exams, this feature having been utilized since 10/95. Link to Dr Shaw's web site with more information regarding Prostate Cancer.

Tumor chemo-resistance testing: this service has been provided to hospital inpatients and outpatients since 1988. Though the test is performed in a reference lab in California, the key to the success of the effort is the specimen selection process by our local pathologist.

Bone marrow diagnosis service: this service has benefited hospital inpatients and outpatients and patients from doctors offices since 1984. The success rate of a clinically useful diagnosis has been nearly 100% and is due to the intensity of utilization of the peripheral blood specimen, the bone marrow aspirate specimen, and the bone marrow biopsy specimen by the various laboratory participants. Diagnosis is assured by one procedure over 98 % of the time. We maintain a goal of preliminary same-day reporting and the final diagnosis by the next day.

Deep FNA service: many hospitals address this service by only processing the biopsy core. We benefit hospital inpatients and outpatients by an intensity of service which is unexcelled anywhere in the US. We process core and cytology specimens as a pathologist and a cytotechnology representative both attend and participate in these procedures with the biopsying radiologist. This helps to ensure adequacy of the specimen on one patient encounter , this having led to an extraordinarily high rate of diagnosis (95%) on one encounter, the diagnosis being issued in 24 hours or less.

Liver biopsy service: this service has benefited hospital inpatients and outpatients and patients from doctors offices since 1993. When instituted, it was the only such service known to us east of Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Percutaneous needle biopsies of the liver are performed by the radiologist under ultrasound guidance. Our pathologists are expertly able to process and diagnose the biopsy because clinical information has been supplied and blood samples are available so that blood smears and blood chemical status of certain tests are always accurately available to the interpreting pathologist. Diagnoses is assured by one procedure over 98% of the time. Diagnoses are rendered within 24 to 48 hours.

Cancer cases, lymph node dissections: Using a special fixative solution and an unusually high intensity of service, we provide thoroughness of service unexcelled in the US (this coming at a time when many labs are trying to reduce efforts in order to lower costs). The accuracy of this study is the key benchmark for the rest of a cancer patient’s life! Extra processing time is often required for this study.

Lexington County Coroner services: The pathology group has provided postmortem testing and autopsy services to the Lexington County Coroner since 1971. The autopsy rate is about 100 cases per year, and the findings have been not only a service to the office of the Coroner, but to our department as we press for ever-increasing quality services needed in our health services district.

Placental pathology service: Our group has strongly lead the way since 1978 in providing expert examination of the baby’s most vital organ during pregnancy. Link to Dr. Shaw's web site with more information regarding Placenta Pathology.

Gastro-intestinal pathology service: Being involved with gastroenterologists since the 70’s, we devised an internal means of multidisciplinary sharing of case information far exceeding what is the norm in most areas. Therefore, our pathologists are able to extend interpretations to an unusual degree of precision when evaluating biopsies of the esophagus, stomach, duodenum, small intestine, colon, and rectum. Link to Dr. Shaw's web site with more information regarding Gastro-intestinal Pathology.

General gynecology service: Since our hospital has an MSO with a large number of primary care physicians, we take great pains to maintain a highly dependable diagnostic service for pathology exams of uterine cervix and edometrial specimens. Our system of dealing with a large number of Pap smear cases is highly accurate, in its own right; and we can handle special situations, too. Link to Dr. Shaw's website with information regarding Pap Smears.

Autopsies, other: autopsies requested by our medical staff on patients admitted to this hospital are performed at no charge. Any others are considered "private autopsies." Link to Dr. Shaw's website with more information regarding  Private Autopsies.