The focus of this module is on critical evaluation of the role of Cellular Pathology and Clinical cytology in the screening, investigation, diagnosis and therapy of clinical disease with particular emphasis on neoplasia. The key concepts relating to cancer screening programme strategies, current developments and the Irish cancer control framework (NCCP) will be reviewed. The module provides a detailed overview of the aetiology, epidemiology, pathogenesis and investigation of common cancers and their precursors. Students will evaluate current and emerging methods in cellular pathology and clinical cytology for biomarker analysis in cancer investigation.
Indicative syllabus covered in the module and / or in its discrete elements
- The Irish Cancer Strategy and cancer screening programmes.
- The design and implementation of cancer screening programmes including management, treatment, quality control, performance indicators and audit.
- Implementation of HPV testing and vaccination programmes.
- Pathology of the female reproductive tract with particular emphasis on cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, dyskaryosis and cervical cancer.
- Role of medical scientists in dissection practices, diagnosis, therapeutics and staging of neoplasia.
- The role of Cellular Pathology and Clinical Cytology in clinical diagnostics, prognostics and theranostics of cancer including current and emerging technologies for analysis, interpretation, quality assurance, standardization, validation of biomarker analysis.
- Morphological and molecular investigations in diagnosis, prognosis and therapy of selected cancers including but not restricted to; cervical, breast, lung, gastrointestinal tract, skin, lymphoproliferations, and sarcomas.
Practical programme:
- Diagnostic and cervical cytology microscopy.
Workshops:
- Cervical cancer and HPV testing
- Molecular Diagnostics [FISH and gene arrays]
- Tumour immunohistochemistry.
Site visit to Cancer Molecular Diagnostics laboratory and/or Molecular Cytology laboratory as available.
Lectures (16 hrs). Laboratory teaching sessions (10hrs), Workshops (14hrs)
| Module Content & Assessment | |
|---|---|
| Assessment Breakdown | % |
| Formal Examination | 60 |
| Other Assessment(s) | 40 |