Breast Macroscopic Dissection Series

The following videos have been produced to provide a visual representation of the basic descriptive features and sampling considerations for handling ‘most’ routine day to day Breast Pathology specimens.

These videos have been targeted at:

• Specialist Trainee / Resident doctors

• Advanced Practitioner Biomedical Scientists / Pathologist Assistants

• Consultant Pathologists

• Research Scientists

• Other Healthcare Professionals with an interest in breast sample handling and grossing

It is my hope that the videos are utilised as a guide to highlight the key considerations for accurate grossing and collection of important data to facilitate efficient, high-quality reporting on microscopy.  They may be especially useful to those starting out as a base from which to build their practical experience.  For those outside of pathology they may also shed a light on some of the work that goes on behind the scenes to evaluate surgical breast specimens and how they may help to provide clinical guidance for patient treatment.

​

While these videos do cover the fundamentals, the Association of Breast Pathology will be running a ‘Virtual Breast Pathology Macroscopy Masterclass’ in January 2027. This Masterclass will build upon the brief insight offered here and tackle more complex scenarios providing guidance and advice on how best to approach these cases, including input from a wider multidisciplinary team.  For more information see below.

​​

I hope you find these videos useful.

Sincerely,

Ashley Gilchrist BSc, MSc, FIBMS, DipRCPath- Advanced Practitioner in Histological Dissection (Breast Pathology)