Medical Kidney Pathology

Pathology Consultative Services

Medical Kidney Pathology

The Medical Kidney Pathology Consultative Service offers full consultations and professional interpretations, which are customizable to each client’s individual needs.

Our staff provides a wide range of services ranging from full consultation with the processing of the biopsy specimen and professional interpretation through the performance of the technical component only for electron microscopy.

Medical Kidney Pathology slide image

Medical Kidney Pathology slide image

Medical Kidney Pathology Consultation Services

Primary Diagnosis  |  Second Opinion Consultation

Immunohistochemistry – Immunofluorescence – Special Stains – Electron Microscopy

Renal biopsy is a useful tool in the evaluation of patients with a wide variety of kidney diseases. Many patients undergoing this procedure are severely ill and have complex underlying medical conditions, such as autoimmune diseases, diabetes, hypertension, or active infections.

Determining the cause of kidney disease often helps to guide clinical treatment. Rapid interpretation of these biopsies by pathologists who specialize in medical renal disease is important to optimize care for these patients.

Accurate interpretation of medical kidney biopsies requires the use of light microscopy, direct immunofluorescence, and often electron microscopy. A pathologist experienced in integrating results from each of these diagnostic modalities must interpret the findings in the setting of each patient’s unique clinical presentation. Physician-to-physician communication is often needed in these biopsies and an open line of communication between the renal pathologist and the ordering nephrologist or rheumatologist is important.

Renal biopsies are most impactful for the patient and treating physician when pertinent clinical information, adequate tissue, and properly shipped specimens are provided to the renal pathologist reviewing the case. Our Medical & Transplant Kidney Biopsy Consultation Kit provides the necessary materials to ensure specimen integrity during shipment to our laboratories.

Patients First: A Collaborative Approach to Improving Patient Outcomes

Cleveland Clinic’s Department of Nephrology is proud to be a “team of teams” to deliver world-class care.

Medical Kidney Pathology is an example of this integrative approach: by collaborating with physicians, surgeons, and geneticists, Cleveland Clinic’s renal pathologists are able to make a precise diagnosis, resulting in better patient outcomes.

Cleveland Clinic is committed to excellence, demonstrated through its renowned renal pathology fellowship program—ranked as one of the best in the country—as well as leading-edge technology that enables Cleveland Clinic to provide accessible, high-quality care to patients around the world.

Acute Interstitial Nephritis

Fast Results

Prelininary results: within 24 hours.
Final results: within 48 hours (including EM).

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Expert Consultation

Our staff is available for consultation during any stage of diagnosis or treatment.

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Flexible Billing Solutions

Options include third-party and client billing that can be customized to your needs.

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Reporting Options

Concise, in-depth reports are available for each consultation.

Medical Kidney Pathology Staff

Our staff members are subspecialty-trained in medical kidney pathology with years of subspecialty practice in a challenging multidisciplinary academic environment.

Specialty interests cover all areas of medical renal disease, including nephrotic syndrome, acute renal failure, chronic renal failure, ANCA-associated renal disease, immune complex-mediated disease, fibril-associated glomerular disease, and transplant evaluation.

Interested in Sending a Pathology Consult?

Our pathologists are nationally- and internationally-recognized experts who are widely acknowledged for their expertise in their subspecialties as well as for their contributions to research and advancements in diagnostic pathology.

Leal Herlitz, MD

Leal Herlitz, MD
Director, Medical Kidney Pathology

Yuan Huang, MBBS

Yuan Huang, MBBS

Jane Nguyen, MD, PhD

Jane Nguyen, MD, PhD

Kristen Tomaszewski, MD

Kristen Tomaszewski, MD