The Department of Pathology at The Second Norman Bethune Hospital of Jilin University was established in 1961. After more than 50 years of development, it has grown into a comprehensive department integrating clinical pathological biopsy diagnosis, cytological diagnosis, molecular pathology testing, graduate education, physician training, and scientific research. It holds a high academic status within the pathological community in Jilin Province, plays a leading role in clinical pathological biopsy diagnosis, and enjoys strong recognition and reputation among peers nationwide. In September 2011, the department was designated as a National Clinical Key Specialty Construction Project Unit, and in December 2017, it was recognized as a leading discipline within the hospital in the institutional discipline evaluation.

The department currently holds memberships and leadership roles in numerous professional organizations, including:

• Member Unit of the Pathology Branch of the Chinese Medical Association

• Standing Committee Member Unit of the Pathologist Branch of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association

• Chair Unit of the Pathologist Branch of the Jilin Provincial Medical Doctor Association

• Vice Chair Unit of the Pathology Branch of the Jilin Provincial Medical Association

• Vice Chair Unit of the Jilin Provincial Pathology Quality Control Center

• Pilot Unit for the National Health Commission’s Remote Pathology Consultation Network
  It also holds roles in specialized groups such as head and neck diseases, thoracic diseases, molecular pathology, urologic and male reproductive pathology, gynecological pathology, breast tumor pathology under the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association, and others.

The department currently has 37 staff members: 21 pathologists (including 5 associate professors or higher, 7 attending physicians, and 9 resident physicians) and 16 technicians and support staff. Among them, there is 1 doctoral advisor and 4 master’s advisors. Nine physicians hold doctoral degrees, 5 are doctoral candidates, and 7 have international training experience. The department has developed subspecialties in gynecological pathology, gastrointestinal pathology, lymphohematopoietic pathology, breast pathology, lung pathology, and molecular pathology. As of November 2017, the department had performed over 662,000 clinical pathological biopsies—the highest volume in the province. In 2016 alone, it conducted over 52,000 biopsy diagnoses, 37,000 cytological diagnoses, 2,421 difficult case consultations, and 339 molecular pathology tests.

The current director of the department is Professor Gao Hongwen, Chief Physician and Doctoral Advisor. He has been recognized as an Outstanding Young and Middle-Aged Technical Expert in Jilin Province and a National Advanced Worker in the Health System. He serves as Chair of the Pathologist Branch of the Jilin Provincial Medical Doctor Association, Member of the Pathology Branch of the Chinese Medical Association, Standing Committee Member of the Pathologist Branch of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association, Vice Head of the Head and Neck Diseases Group of the Pathology Branch of the Chinese Medical Association, and Member of the Breast Tumor Group of the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association, among other roles. Through continuous exchange and collaboration with domestic and international pathology experts, he has contributed significantly to the development of clinical pathology in Jilin Province.

The department emphasizes domestic and international cooperation and exchange. It has established strong academic relationships with pathology departments at renowned universities in Asia, including Tohoku University and Okayama University in Japan, and Seoul National University in South Korea. From 2011 to 2017, the department sent 8 young physicians and 3 graduate students for training at these institutions. Faculty have been invited to international conferences more than 10 times for presentations, posters, and chairing sessions. In late 2014, Professor Nobunori Sasano, Chair of the Department of Pathology at Tohoku University, was appointed as an Honorary Professor of Jilin University—the first such honorary appointment at the hospital. That same year, a long-term training program for young doctors was established with the Department of Pathology at Okayama University Hospital. In addition, professors from these institutions are regularly invited to give lectures, provide academic guidance, and consult on difficult cases, thereby enhancing the department’s diagnostic and research capabilities.

The department is equipped with first-class pathological equipment, ensuring high-quality pathological services. Key equipment includes:

• Leica IP C automated cassette printer

• Leica IP S automated slide printer

• Leica 1950 automated cryostat

• ThermoFisher Excelsior ES fully enclosed tissue processor

• Leica 2145/2155 semi-/fully automated rotary microtomes

• ThermoFisher EC350 tissue embedding station

• Leica ST5020/CV5030 automated staining and coverslipping workstations

• Dako Autostainer Link48 automated IHC stainer

• Milestone MacroPath D gross imaging system

• DP26 Olympus microscopic image capture system

• Olympus BX51-32FL fluorescence microscope

• Multi-head microscopes (10-, 5-, and 2-head)

• Ventana BenchMark XT automated IHC and ISH platform

• Olympus FISH analysis system

• Ventana Roche digital pathology system

• Roche Cobas 4800 II real-time PCR system

• CBG Biottach xylene recycler

In 2009, the department pioneered gross specimen photography and a digital pathological network management system in China, promoting standardized grossing procedures in large hospitals. It installed the first Ventana iScan digital slide scanner and Vituoso slide management system in China. In June 2012, the digital slide scanning and remote consultation system was officially launched, establishing the first digital pathology platform and remote consultation system in the province, enabling synchronous observation and diagnosis of difficult cases by experts worldwide. The molecular pathology platform, gradually built since 2013, supports targeted therapy for cancer patients. In 2015, the department became a pilot unit for the National Health Commission’s Remote Pathology Consultation Center.

The department has advanced molecular pathology and immunohistochemical testing platforms. It passed:

• HER-2 FISH testing quality assessment by the National Center for Clinical Laboratories (September 2014)

• EGFR gene testing quality evaluation by the National Pathology Quality Control Center (November 2014)

• HER-2 FISH testing quality evaluation by the National Pathology Quality Control Center (October 2015)
  It was the first in the province to offer HER-2 gene testing for breast cancer, providing a basis for targeted therapy. In December 2016, it was approved as the Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Pathology for Tumor Diagnosis. In 2013, it became the first IHC lab in Jilin Province certified by the National Pathology Quality Control Center, equipped with the first Ventana Benchmark XT and Dako Autostainer Link48 automated IHC stainers in the province, offering over 100 IHC tests.

The department has established standardized workflows and developed subspecialties in gynecological, gastrointestinal, lymphohematopoietic, breast, lung, and molecular pathology. Processes are clearly defined and standardized, including:

• Processing of outpatient small specimens (grossing, embedding, sectioning, staining)

• Standardized handling and diagnosis of gastric and colorectal cancer specimens, including lymph node dissection

• Grossing protocols for gynecological specimens such as uterus

• Reporting流程 for breast cancer IHC and molecular subtyping

• EGFR mutation testing standards and流程 for lung cancer
  These practices serve as a model and guide for pathology peers both within and outside the province.

The department routinely offers special staining, immunohistochemical staining, in situ hybridization, molecular pathology testing, liquid-based thin-layer cytology, and fine-needle aspiration cytology diagnosis.

Main Services:

1. Routine Pathological Biopsy Examination and Diagnosis
   Specimens must be fixed in 10% neutral formalin. Diagnosis involves grossing by a pathologist, processing/embedding/sectioning/staining by technicians, and microscopic evaluation and reporting by a pathologist. Turnaround time is typically 3–5 working days (3 for outpatient, 5 for inpatient specimens). Difficult or special cases require consultation with the director and team.

2. Intraoperative Frozen Section Diagnosis
   Diagnosis is typically provided within 30 minutes.
   Applicable for: determining lesion nature (e.g., benign vs. malignant), assessing tumor spread or margins, and confirming tissue identity (e.g., parathyroid).
   Not recommended for: suspected lymphoma, very small specimens (≤0.2 cm), preoperatively biopsiable lesions, fatty/calcified/bony tissues, soft tissue tumors requiring mitotic count, tumors defined by biological behavior, and specimens with known infections (e.g., TB, hepatitis, HIV).

3. Cytopathological Examination and Diagnosis
   Results are available the next working day. Services include:

• Gynecologic cervical liquid-based cytology (early detection of cervical cancer and precancerous lesions)

• Non-gynecologic cytology (e.g., CSF, thyroid FNA, breast discharge, sputum, BAL, effusions, washings, cyst fluids, joint fluid)

• Fine-needle aspiration cytology for superficial masses (e.g., lymph nodes, breast, thyroid)

• Consultation and diagnosis support for lower-level hospitals

4. Special Staining
   Available techniques include Masson trichrome (collagen), reticulin fiber, elastic fiber, PAS (glycogen), acid-fast, GMS (silver), and Congo red staining. Valuable for diagnosing infections (e.g., TB, fungus) and certain tumors.

5. Immunohistochemical (IHC) Staining
   Over 100 markers offered (e.g., ER, PR, HER-2, Ki67, TTF1, CDX2, LCA). Automated stainers are used. IHC aids in accurate diagnosis, guides clinical treatment, evaluates prognosis and proliferation, assists in tumor classification/grading/source identification, determines origin, and supports immune disease diagnosis. Applicable to biopsy tissue and cell blocks from effusions.

6. Molecular Pathology Testing
   FISH and PCR platforms are available for EGFR, ALK, BRAF, HER-2, and other gene mutations.

7. External Consultation for Difficult Cases
   The department provides consultation for external difficult cases, with diagnoses primarily provided by the director for reference by the originating pathologist. Reports are typically available within 2 hours.