Histopathologist

Dr. Komala Pillay

ICH building, First floor, Room 116

Red Cross Children’s Hospital

Rondebosch 7700

Tel: 021 6585209

Summary of staff

Clinical Services

• Surgical pathology
• Frozen section service including after hours
• Autopsy service
• Electron microscopy
• Cytology
• Specialized services – renal biopsies, liver biopsies, muscle biopsies, rectal biopsies for Hirschsprung’s disease, paediatric tumours.

Teaching

• Undergraduate lectures, tutorials and exams
• Postgraduate:
  • Registrars (anatomical pathology and clinical)
  • Human biology Honours students   
  • MPhil course in paediatric pathology

Research

• MMed study:  Dr S Pather:  A study of large cell lymphomas in HIV positive patients (2007-present)
• A prospective single centre study to measure serum and urinary silver levels following the application of Acticoat, a nanocrystalline silver dressing to burn wounds in a cohort of paediatric patients (Prof H Rode, Dr S Cox)

Pathology collaboration (histology and electron microscopy)

• To expand the diagnostic work-up of limb girdle muscular dystrophy and congenital muscular dystrophy (Prof J Wilmshurst)

Pathology collaboration (introduction, optimisation and interpretation of new antibodies)

• Study of the mucosal structure of the larynx in samples taken during routine post-mortems from the larynx and trachea, in an attempt to ascertain whether there characteristics of the mucosa which determine the distribution of mucosal swelling in laryngitis in childhood. (Prof M Klein)

Pathology collaboration