Skip to Content

Second Opinion Pathology Services/Outside Consultation

Pathologists at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center are highly specialized in the diagnosis of neoplastic disease.

A second opinion surgical pathology case review is available to any attending physician or pathologist who submits pathology material for consultation. The submitted material will be reviewed by an in-house pathologist with expertise in that subspecialty. Very often, multiple pathologists in conference review the submitted materials. A written reply will be sent in each case.

We have experts in a wide range of cancer subspecialties, including:

  • Breast
  • Dermatopathology
  • Gastrointestinal
  • Genitourinary
  • Gynecological
  • Head and neck
  • Neuropathology
  • Bone and soft tissue
  • Thoracic

The pathology department also operates several diagnostic facilities, including the Fine Needle Aspiration Clinic and specialized laboratories for image analysis, electron microscopy, diagnostic hybridization and immunocytochemistry.

Many insurance carriers will reimburse the costs of second opinion consultations. If payment is a problem, we can work with you. Follow-up reviews are payable separately. Please remember that our service is for pathology second opinions only. We cannot discuss or recommend treatment options.

To Obtain a Consultation

  • The attending physician may request the necessary materials from the outside hospital or laboratory, or may ask the Pathology Department to initiate the request

  • Pathologists requesting a second opinion may send the surgical material directly to us. The minimum charge for a consultation and report on referred slides prepared elsewhere is about $250

  • Physicians and pathologists can fill out our online consultation forms, linked below. Patients can print out the forms for their physicians to complete

Note: Forms will open in pdf format.

Send the completed form(s), consultation fees, materials to be reviewed and a copy of the surgical pathology report to the address below. Overnight delivery is preferred. We can also help physicians obtain diagnostic materials from an outside hospital or laboratory. A written reply will be submitted in every case.

Outside Slide Consultation
Department of Pathology
M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
Box 85
1515 Holcombe Blvd.
Houston, Texas 77030
713-792-3111
713-794-4630 Fax

Related Pathology Services


© 2009 The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center