Events on 28 September 2023

Phadia Academy is an online learning platform by Thermo Fisher Scientific aimed at Lab staff primarily BMSes in Immunology Labs. It includes courses for autoimmune diseases, allergy, and our instruments. We would like to have it as a link on the IBMS webpage, as it was in previous years.

IBMS Congress 2023 is an important forum for progressing your professional skills and knowledge, supporting career development and promoting the profession.

Full Hands-on Practical Microtomy Training course.

Microtomy is a skill that requires training and practice. The course is practical and hands-on for anyone who desire to work in histopathology department.

25-27th September 2023
2- 4th October 2023
9-11th October 2023
18-20th October 2023

Delegates will understand:

What is a quality culture.
Importance of obtaining and maintaining ISO accreditation.
Maintaining and improving quality and compliance.
Key tips for supporting daily quality and compliance.

The advanced specialist diploma in dermatopathology reporting is fully supported by Health Education England and is a pioneering role which is helping to reduce the demand-capacity problems that currently exist within histopathology and specifically dermatopathology.

I am currently working as a consultant healthcare scientist as part of the histopathology reporting team at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, specialising in dermatopathology

I was in the first cohort for Dermatopathology reporting and the first to be awarded the qualification. The qualification was developed jointly by the RCPath and the IBMS and has been designed to mirror that of the histopathology medical trainees with four stages A-D. There are two exams- one at the end of stage A and one at the end of stage C. Further, a portfolio of evidence is assessed at each stage in order to progress. To be eligible to apply for the qualification applicants must be a Member or Fellow of the IBMS, a HCPC registered biomedical or clinical scientist, with at least five years’ experience post-registration experience .

I began studying towards the advanced specialist diploma in dermatopathology reporting in November 2017 and successfully completed the qualification in February 2023.

My experience of training towards this qualification has been very positive and rewarding. It has been a difficult journey at times as the qualification is new, but now that it is established, many of the initial issues have been resolved. My role as a Consultant Healthcare Scientist reporter is now firmly established within the department and within the skin team at the hospital. I have excellent working relationships with my colleagues and feel supported and respected.

The session will provide an overview of the Histopathology Reporting qualifications outlining the success so far and then will focus on the new limited scope Reporting qualification for those involved in Cervical Screening. It will provide guidance on the eligibility criteria for this qualification, the portfolio requirements and the support needed by candidates from colleagues in order to undertake the qualification.

Training for Biomedical Scientists is a fast-growing field and has become a crucial factor in the efficiency of histopathology departments. It has many benefits from improving turnaround times, career progression and utilising Pathologist’s time more effectively. As more Biomedical Scientists are performing dissection the responsibility to teach, and train is down to the already practicing BMS dissectors rather than the Pathologists. It is imperative that training is performed correctly and suitably for the individuals, the patients, and the department as a whole. Many aspects need to be considered to deliver effective training and being fully prepared and organised for training can make the process a successful one.

This presentation will examine a specific case study submitted as part of the 'Advanced Specialist Diploma in Breast Pathology'. The case in question was a mastectomy sample for the treatment of diffuse multifocal invasive ductal carcinoma.

Within the presentation I intend to highlight the importance of pre-analysis and emphasise its correlation with macroscopic examination and block sampling. I will also highlight the importance of post analysis and the understanding of how the role of the Advanced Practitioner can directly impact patient treatment.

Emergency presentation of adenocarcinoma in a young female.



This case study was carried out as part of the Advanced Specialist Diploma in Histological Dissection of Lower GI Pathology. The patient was a 34-year-old female who presented at A&E with sudden onset of abdominal pain and constipation. A CT scan showed multiple colonic polyps and a likely descending colon tumour. The differential diagnosis of the tumour was of an inflammatory process, in view of her young age and negative family history of colorectal cancer. Endoscopic biopsies confirmed the diagnosis of a well to moderately differentiated mucinous adenocarcinoma. A stent was placed to relieve obstructive symptoms and a genetic questionnaire was completed. The patient subsequently underwent a subtotal colectomy in view of the large number of polyps. Histology of the resection specimen showed a circumferential mucinous adenocarcinoma multiple lymph node metastases and lymphovascular invasion, TNM 8 pT3 N2b R0 V0 L1 Pn0.

Routine Mismatch Repair (MMR) immunohistochemistry detected a loss of MSH2 and MSH6, indicating possible Lynch syndrome. Further molecular testing including Microsatellite Instability (MSI) showed that Lynch syndrome was not present, and no genetic explanation could be found as to why the patient developed bowel cancer at a young age. Detection of a KRAS mutation in the tumour cells suggests that treatment with anti-EGFR therapies such as Cetuximab may not be effective in this patient. After discussion of the histology at MDT, the patient was referred to oncology for adjuvant chemotherapy which consisted of 6 months Oxaliplatin and 5-Fluorouracil. The patient completed the course in 2019 and was referred to the surgical team for follow up with CT scans, endoscopy and CEA monitoring.

In summary, this case demonstrates the essential role of appropriate sampling and molecular testing of colonic cancer resection specimens in guiding decisions about the patient’s subsequent treatment.

Delegates will learn:

What Gestational trophoblastic disease is, including the different types and how they arise
How to handle a sample at the dissection bench including comparison with normal products of conception
How to distinguish between the different types of disease and mimics
What a diagnosis of gestational trophoblastic disease means for the patient
What the malignant entities of Gestational Trophoblastic Disease include