The Cytopathology Division at North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System offers state-of-the-art technologies and a complete test menu including conventional and ThinPrep Pap Test, Fine Needle Aspirations, and Circulating Tumor Cell Search, among others. Cytopathology diagnoses have a very important role in the diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of a variety of medical conditions.

Experience

For more than 25 years, the Cytopathology Laboratory has provided accurate diagnoses for the community, serving patients and physicians. More that 80,000 specimens are processed and analyzed every year by highly skilled Laboratory personnel, Cytotechnologists and experienced board certified Cytopathologists with a vast diagnostic experience. Dr Patricia Wasserman is the senior director of the division.

Our staff is involved in education of Residents and Fellows, forging the new generation of Pathologists.

The Cytopathology Division’s staff works as a team in providing excellent patient care by offering personalized customer service to patients and physicians and by continuous quality improvement.

Expert Consultation

• Dr. Patricia Wasserman, Senior Director of the Cytopathology Division, is board certified in Anatomic Pathology and Clinical Pathology, and Cytopathology. She is Director of the Cytopathology Fellowship at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, Assistant Professor of Pathology at Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine, and Albert Einstein College of Medicine . She has authored or co-authored over forty publications and abstracts as well as two book chapters in peer-reviewed literature. Dr. Wasserman is a member of several professional societies, including College of American Pathologists, American Society of Cytopathology, International Academy of Cytology, and American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology. She has special research interests in all aspects of Cytopathology, especially thyroid disorders, head and neck neoplasms, cervical cancer diagnosis and management, and circulating tumor cell testing.
• Dr. Mohamed Aziz, Director of Cytopathology Division, is board certified in Anatomic Pathology and Cytopathology. He is Assistant Professor of Pathology at Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine and at New York Medical College. Dr. Aziz has authored multiple articles published in various medical journals and has presented his work at numerous meetings. His main area of interest are all aspects of Cytopathology, Breast, and Bone & Soft Tissue. Dr. Aziz's experience prior to joining North Shore-LIJ includes Chief of Pathology at Saint Vincent's Cancer Center in Manhattan and serving as the Vice President of Omegapath Diagnostics Corporation, Utica NY. For a brief period, Dr. Aziz was the Ship's Doctor of the World Expedition Cruise "Lindblad Explorer."
• Dr. Nora Morgenstern, Associate Director of Cytopathology Division, is board certified in Anatomic Pathology and Clinical Pathology, and Cytopathology. She is the Medical Director of the Fine Needle Aspiration Clinic and Assistant Professor of Pathology at Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine and Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She is involved in teaching Cytopathology and Surgical Pathology to residents and fellows in Pathology, Endocrinology, Oncology and Surgery, and the Pathology representative for Multidisciplinary Tumor Boards in Gastrointestinal, Pancreatic, Hepatic and Thyroid neoplasms. She is also the Research Coordinator for the Cytopathology Division. She has special interests in Fine Needle Aspirations of palpable lesions and in Ultrasound Guided Fine Needle Aspirations of non-palpable superficial lesions.
• Dr. Ilan Reder is board certified in Anatomic Pathology and Clinical Pathology, and Cytopathology. He is Assistant Professor of Pathology at Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine and Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He is interested in various aspects of Anatomical Pathology, Cytopathology of Pancreas and Fine Needle Aspirations.
• Dr. Rubina Cocker, Assistant Professor of Pathology at Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine, is board certified in Anatomic Pathology and Clinical Pathology, and Cytopathology. Dr. Cocker is involved with teaching Cytopathology and surgical Pathology to the pathology residents, fellows, and cytotechnologists. She is interested in various aspects of Cytopathology, especially Fine Needle Aspiration of thyroid, pancreas, and salivary glands. In surgical pathology, Dr. Cocker's interests include Ocular, ENT and Gyn Pathology.

Expertise

• Fine Needle Aspiration
  Fine Needle Aspiration of palpable lesions is performed by Cytopathologists offering the advantage of rapid preliminary diagnosis in the majority of cases. The nature of some specimens may require additional studies such as Immunohistochemistry and Flow cytometry. The organs most commonly aspirated are lymph node, thyroid, salivary gland and breast. On-site microscope adequacy assessment is also offered to Radiologists and Endoscopists, to ensure proper collection, triaging and cellular adequacy. Cytopathology faculty is expert in thyroid, pediatric, urologic and pulmonary disease among others
• ThinPrep Imaging System
  ThinPrep Imaging System is a semi-automated screening device that increases the Pap test accuracy. Specimens are collected in liquid-based fixative and processed as monolayer preparation.
• Test Menu
  We offer a complete Non-Gyn test menu for virtually any Cytopathology specimens: Urine, Effusions, Cyst, Washings, and Brushings.
• Second Opinions
  Second opinions are offered to physicians and patients to confirm previously diagnosed Cytopathology specimens.
• Circulating Tumor Cells
  FDA-approved testing used to monitor treatment response and helps predict survival in patients with breast, prostate or colorectal cancer, and prior to a new course of therapy and at follow-up.

Timely Results

The diagnosis of a Fine Needle Aspiration and Non-Gyn specimens are completed in 24–48 hours and the Pap tests are completed in three days.