Mediastinal Pathology

Why the Roswell Park Doctor You Never Meet May Be the Most Important Person on Your Care Team

Patients with mediastinal tumors interact with many doctors during the course of their care, but rarely do they meet the specialist who plays a critical role in the outcome: the pathologist who diagnoses their disease by analyzing samples of blood, tissue and body fluid. Precise diagnosis is what drives patient decisions and therapy. If the pathology is wrong, everything that follows will likely be incorrect as well.

It takes years of training and a specific skill set to become an expert pathologist. After medical school, doctors complete a minimum of four years in a pathology training program and generally pursue additional training in a subspecialty. Mediastinal tumors are among the most difficult cancers to diagnose, and require that pathologists have both extensive experience and subspecialty training. Because many different types of tumors can occur in the mediastinum, and because these tumors are so rare, few pathologists will have the experience necessary to correctly diagnose and stage them.

Game-Changer: With more than 200 employees, Pathology is one of the largest departments at Roswell Park. This past year, Roswell Park pathologists have reported over a 10 percent change in overall cancer diagnoses that were made outside of Roswell Park.

Second Look, World of Difference

Even if all you need is a second opinion from Roswell Park, we’re here for you!

A second opinion is the best way to reassure you that your initial diagnosis is accurate and the recommended treatment strategy is right for you! Over a century, our specialists have successfully worked with community doctors, and are happy to discuss and share information, as needed.

To arrange for a second opinion, call 1-800-ROSWELL (1-800-767-9355) or fill out the online Become a Patient Form.