Breast Center Pathology Laboratory

SERVICES/RESOURCES - CLINICAL

Diagnostic Consultation (Breast Pathology)

Available Services and Expertise:
Dr. Carolina Gutierrez offers comprehensive diagnostic consultation services to physicians and patients at the Baylor/Ben Taub Breast Care Center. Access to the same services for individuals outside the Baylor/Ben Taub system can be arranged by contacting us directly.

Diagnostic Approach and Philosophy:
Breast pathology is an evolving science and art. We conform closely to the approach described in: Diagnostic Histopathology of the Breast. Ed. DL Page and TJ Anderson, First Edition, Churchill Livingston, 1987 – modified to accommodate our own thinking and experience. Our evaluation of breast cancer provides all the information currently considered to be essential for therapeutic decision making, including: histological subtype, tumor size, histological grade, mitotic index, status of surgical margins, and status of axillary lymph nodes. We have developed a diagnostic template (see example) and use it in the majority of cases to promote concise standardized terminology and content.

What to Send:

Our pathologists need as much information as possible to provide an accurate and comprehensive diagnosis. To facilitate this, please send:

Cases are routinely evaluated and reported within 48 hours of receiving them. We usually keep one or two representative slides in our files and return all remaining materials by mail to the originating hospital unless requested otherwise.

Where to Send:
Physicians requesting consultation within the Baylor/Ben Taub system can send materials through the hospital courier service to the Department of Pathology at The Ben Taub Hospital (please write “Attention Dr. Gutierrez on the requisition slip), or hand deliver them to the Breast Center Pathology Laboratory (Alkek Building, Room 12.10).

Requests by physicians or individuals outside the Baylor/Ben Taub system should be mailed directly to the Laboratory:

Breast Center Pathology Laboratory
Attn: Dr. Carolina Gutierrez
Baylor College of Medicine
One Baylor Plaza
Alkek Building, Room N-1210.08
Houston, Texas 77030

Billing Information/Rates:

The cost/billing structure of the Breast Center Pathology Laboratory is based on the Medicare/Medicaid RBRVS reimbursement scale and the AMA Current Procedure Terminology (CPT codes). We bill patients directly and they are responsible for payment (see current costs for the most common procedures).


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