Department of Pathology
Overview
In an era of rapidly developing technology, personalized medicine (also known as precision medicine) has emerged and gradually become the dominant trend of modern medicine. New treatment methods—based on the biological characteristics and distinct genetic profiles of each patient—have opened opportunities for more optimal treatment than traditional methods. As an important link in this process, the field of Pathology—a modern basic medical discipline—not only remains at basic tasks such as cell analysis and histopathology; but also continuously expands—developing new techniques to accurately determine the nature of diseases, thereby supporting the development of effective treatment strategies that meet the increasingly high demands of modern medicine.
Seizing this trend and its mission during this phase, Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital has continuously invested in and developed the Department of Pathology. Aiming to make the Department one of the leading centers in Vietnam in its field, the Hospital has built a team of highly skilled, dynamic, and enthusiastic doctors and technicians. Applying advanced technologies such as digital pathology, genetic analysis, liquid biopsy, and immunology techniques to enhance diagnostic accuracy. Thanks to long‑term vision and systematic investment, the Department of Pathology not only meets diagnostic needs for thousands of patients domestically and internationally, but also contributes extensive specialized knowledge through scientific research, helping shape the future of medicine.
Strength
Digital Pathology
Based on the national digitalization strategy and the mission to become a smart hospital of the University Medical and Pharmacy Hospital of Ho Chi Minh City, the Department of Pathology has accelerated the whole slide imaging (Whole Slide Image) digitization technology and applied a paperless workflow throughout the entire reading – storage – result conference chain.
Thus optimizing operational efficiency and enhancing professional quality. This system speeds up case conferences, allows sharing high‑quality images among specialist groups, across specialties and hospitals; at the same time it supports standardization of slides and corresponding techniques, aiming to optimize image quality and consistency of the final diagnosis. In addition to practical value, the digital platform also enables the implementation of new approaches in training and research, especially in fields applying deep learning and artificial intelligence in diagnosis.
Image: Artificial Intelligence interface supporting counting and analysis of immunohistochemistry
In‑depth immunohistochemistry with many next‑generation markers
Since 2023, the Department of Pathology has continuously improved and refined the operation of basic immunohistochemistry panels. In 2026, with the desire to further elevate immunohistochemistry techniques, the department also began standardizing newer, more in‑depth markers to serve diagnosis, classification, and guidance of targeted biological therapy (precision/immune checkpoint inhibition). Representative antibody groups include:
Renal/Urinary
- Renal tumor group (RCC) / RCC subtyping: CAIX (CA9), AMACR (P504S), TFE3, SDHB, FH (Fumarate hydratase), EPCAM, Claudin 4 (supportive)
Pancreas – Liver – Biliary – Gastrointestinal Tract
- Pancreatic/biliary tract carcinoma & malignant support: SMAD4 (DPC4), IMP3, MUC2, MUC5AC
- Neuroendocrine in gastrointestinal tract – pancreas: INSM1, SSTR2/5, DAXX.
Thoracic/Pleura
- Differentiating mesothelioma vs adenocarcinoma: Claudin 4, EPCAM (EpCAM)
Obstetrics – Gestational trophoblastic disease / imprinting
- Supporting diagnosis of gestational trophoblastic diseases: p57
Parallel testing – determining biological therapy regimens
- PD‑L1: supports assessment of response potential to immunotherapy.
- CLDN18.2 and other next‑generation markers: contribute to selecting targeted therapy in appropriate contexts.
Pioneering unit for processing samples and early gastric cancer diagnosis by ESD
ESD (Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection) is the world's most advanced minimally invasive endoscopic technique for treating early gastric cancer. This technique is performed by the interventional endoscopy unit – one of the strategic units of the University Medical and Pharmacy Hospital and Ho Chi Minh City. To meet the growing demand for early gastric cancer treatment, the Department focuses on standardizing the ESD specimen processing workflow, optimizing diagnosis according to Japanese standards with criteria such as resection margin, depth/invasion, histologic type and related risk factors. Based on that, pathology results can help clinicians personalize treatment decisions: simple surveillance, additional intervention, or appropriate subsequent therapy.
Quality standardization: 100% of specimens are cut and selected by experienced physicians
An important point in quality control is that 100% of surgical specimens are cut and selected by skilled, experienced physicians, ensuring:
- Sampling the correct focus without missing suspicious areas.
- Ensuring seamless information from gross to microscopic to diagnosis, tightening reliability of diagnosis and final report.
Putting the patient at the center: “each patient is a story”
The Department of Pathology commits to a humane approach and always stands by patients:
- Results are handed over and released directly to patients as soon as possible via the UMC Care application
- Results are read and diagnosed according to international standards such as: CAP (USA), ICCR (World Health Organization), FRCPath (Royal College of Pathologists, UK)…
- Supporting patients to borrow slides, tissue blocks when transfer or consultation is needed.
- Translating results into English upon request for convenient treatment or international consultation.
- Enhancing information exchange with clinicians, multidisciplinary conference sessions to ensure conclusions fit the context of each case.
Expanding new specialized fields
In parallel with its strength in tumor diseases, the Department of Pathology is also developing specialized fields such as liver biopsy and kidney biopsy. These are considered important pillars in diagnosis and treatment monitoring; as well as providing specialist support in organ donation and transplantation care, monitoring complications and graft rejection. To achieve this, a closed-loop standardized process from technique to diagnosis is needed to classify and stratify risk optimally for patients. Difficult cases are often coordinated in multidisciplinary, inter‑hospital and international exchanges to ensure consistent conclusions and optimize therapy.
The diagnostic quality is always ensured by an experienced team of physicians, including those trained and practiced abroad at major centers in Japan such as Osaka, Tokyo, Hokkaido…Overall, the department not only meets routine diagnostic needs but also progressively approaches specialized standards, effectively serving complex cases with high expertise requirements.
Fluorescent immunofluorescence and in situ hybridization (ISH)
The Department of Pathology also promotes the implementation of advanced techniques to increase diagnostic certainty and support precise treatment. Among them, immunofluorescence (IF) is routinely applied for dermatologic, autoimmune, and renal disease groups, helping detect and locate immune components directly on tissue in a characteristic deposition pattern, thereby strengthening pathogenesis evidence, aiding classification and guiding therapy. Additionally, the department implements EBER‑ISH to identify the presence of Epstein‑Barr Virus (EBV) directly on histologic slides, providing diagnostic evidence for EBV‑related diseases—particularly in the Asian and Vietnamese context where EBV infection rates are high—such as nasal T/NK lymphoma; increasing the reliability of conclusions and contributing to selecting appropriate treatment strategies.
Training & Research
The Department of Pathology, University Medical and Pharmacy Hospital of Ho Chi Minh City always focuses on parallel development of training and scientific research, viewing this as an important foundation to improve diagnostic quality and serve patients.
In the field of training, the Department of Pathology annually participates in and supports the training of hundreds of postgraduate trainees, contributing to standardizing knowledge – practical pathology skills, enhancing diagnostic capability and updating new techniques. Through continuous training activities and on‑site practical guidance, the department plays an important role in providing and supplementing pathology human resources for the Southern region, meeting the growing demand of the healthcare system.
In deep research activities, the young staff of the Department of Pathology actively integrates and expands international collaborations through roles as members of the Executive Boards of prestigious societies such as the Asian Society of Dermatopathology and the Asia Society of Digital Pathology… The department also maintains a research collaboration network with multidisciplinary experts in many countries, including the United States, Japan, Taiwan…, to update trends and develop new research directions.
In addition, many staff members in the department work closely with clinicians to participate in and implement large multicenter RCTs in Vietnam, contributing valuable scientific evidence for high‑impact application in diagnostic and therapeutic practice. Notably, the department’s young investigators have received numerous hospital‑level professional awards for basic research projects on rare diseases, such as subcutaneous panniculitis‑like T‑cell lymphoma, and have been highly praised by experts for their novelty, academic depth, and applicability.