About the service
The breast pathology service at the Department of Pathology, Singapore General Hospital (SGH), accessions in excess of 5000 breast surgical specimens a year, ranging from core biopsies, excisions and mastectomies. Radiologically guided biopsies, second opinion consultations and sentinel lymph node excisions account for an important proportion of the workload. SGH Pathology diagnoses the largest number of breast cancers annually in Singapore. The spectrum of breast pathology is varied, interesting and challenging. Routine light microscopic interpretation is well supported by adjunctive immunohistochemistry with a wide range of antibodies available for ancillary use. Regular breast multidisciplinary sessions and breast tumour boards are conducted.
About the breast team
The diagnostic breast service is helmed by Dr Puay Hoon Tan, Senior Consultant and Head of the Department of Pathology, who has an established interest in breast pathology for many years. Dr Angela Chong, Dr Inny Busmanis and Dr Jabed Iqbal are staff pathologists with interest in breast pathology. Dr Ana Richelia Jara-Lazaro is the breast pathology Clinical Associate.
About research and education
Apart from diagnostic work, the breast team is actively engaged in research and teaching. Dr Aye Aye Thike is our dedicated research breast pathologist. Research is translational in nature and centres on discovery of biological prognostic markers in breast cancer. The group is currently working on triple negative breast cancers and breast phyllodes tumours. We hold the distinction of reporting the largest published series of breast phyllodes tumours from a single institution.
There are regular teaching sessions conducted for pathology trainees and fellows who also rotate through the diagnostic breast service. We are organizing an inaugural breast pathology course in November 2010, and this will henceforth be an annual event targeted at locoregional participants.
Opportunities
We welcome individuals who desire to experience the vast scope of breast pathology work in SGH as fellows for specified durations. Research attachments are also available. Enquiries can be directed to:
Dr Puay Hoon Tan, email: tan.puay.hoon@sgh.com.sg
Selected publications:
- Thike AA, Iqbal J, Cheok PY, Chong APY, Tse GMK, Tan B, Tan P, Wong NS, Tan PH. Triple negative breast cancer: outcome correlation with immunohistochemical detection of basal markers. Am J Surg Pathol in press.
- Idirisinghe PK, Thike AA, Cheok PY, Tse GM, Lui PC, Fook-Chong S, Wong NS, Tan PH. Hormone receptor and c-ERBB2 status in distant metastatic and locally recurrent breast cancer. Pathologic correlations and clinical significance. Am J Clin Pathol. 2010 Mar;133(3):416-29.
- Begum SM, Jara-Lazaro AR, Thike AA, Tse GM, Wong JS, Ho JT, Tan PH. Mucin extravasation in breast core biopsies--clinical significance and outcome correlation. Histopathology. 2009 Nov;55(5):609-17.
- Jara-Lazaro AR, Tan PH. Molecular pathogenesis of progression and recurrence in breast phyllodes tumors. Am J Transl Res. 2009 Jan 1;1(1):23-34.
- Thike AA, Cheok PY, Jara-Lazaro AR, Tan B, Tan P, Tan PH. Triple-negative breast cancer: clinicopathological characteristics and relationship with basal-like breast cancer. Mod Pathol. 2010 Jan;23(1):123-33. Epub 2009 Oct 23.
- Jara-Lazaro AR, Thilagaratnam S, Tan PH. Breast cancer in Singapore: some perspectives. Breast Cancer. 2010;17(1):23-8. Epub 2009 Aug 22.
- Yap X, Tan HY, Huang J, Lai Y, Yip GW, Tan PH, Bay BH. Over-expression of metallothionein predicts chemoresistance in breast cancer. J Pathol. 2009 Mar;217(4):563-70.
- Moriya T, Kozuka Y, Kanomata N, Tse GM, Tan PH. The role of immunohistochemistry in the differential diagnosis of breast lesions. Pathology. 2009 Jan;41(1):68-76.
- Jara-Lazaro AR, Tse GM, Tan PH. Columnar cell lesions of the breast: an update and significance on core biopsy. Pathology. 2009 Jan;41(1):18-27.