Breast Pathology in Patient Care
An accurate diagnosis is critical to establishing an effective treatment plan for patients. Nowhere is this more apparent than in breast pathology today. With treatment protocols for breast cancer dependent upon specific characteristics demonstrating the expression of hormone receptors and the Her2 oncoprotein, it is imperative that an accurate pathology-based work-up of breast cancer is provided to help decide appropriate treatment options. Additionally we understand the patient anxiety related to waiting for a pathology result and have a goal of rapid turnaround times to limit this time of uncertainty.
UW Medicine Breast Pathology Service
Our specialized breast pathology service is separate from our general pathology service to ensure each case is handled by faculty considered to have sub-specialty expertise in breast pathology. Under the leadership of Dr. Kim Allison, Director of UW Medicine Breast Pathology, our faculty are committed to providing outstanding diagnostic specialty medical care to the community, promoting knowledge through clinical research, and preparing tomorrow's physicians, scientists and other health professionals.Dr. Allison specializes in breast and gynecologic pathology. As director of Breast Pathology, she oversees the operations of the service, participates in biweekly multidisciplinary breast tumor boards, and directs training of residents and the breast/GYN fellow on the service. She has a special interest in the development of high quality diagnostic standards and novel diagnostic/therapy-related tumor markers. She has published on issues in diagnostic agreement, establishing appropriate diagnostic criteria and clinical management for a variety of entities (atypical ductal hyperplasia, borderline tumors of the ovaries, ER and Her2 testing in breast cancer, sentinel lymph node testing). Additional areas of interest include the immune system’s response to neoplasia and pregnancy-associated breast cancers.
Dr. Allison is also a breast cancer survivor.