Fanfani boosts its healthcare offerings with the largest private Anatomic Pathology section in the Tuscany region.
Pathologic anatomy is a highly specialized branch of medicine that studies disease through macroscopic and/or microscopic examination of organs, tissues, and cells. In the clinical setting, pathologic anatomy plays a key role in planning any medical or surgical treatment by providing diagnoses on tissues or cells taken from patients in whom disease is suspected.
Anatomopathological investigation makes it possible to distinguish between normal tissue, inflammation, benign and malignant tumors, and other pathological conditions and therefore has a prominent role in oncology and preventive medicine.
The main activities of the discipline include:
- Biopsy: a medical act that consists of taking tissue from a patient in whom a disease is suspected. The purpose of the biopsy is anatomopathological diagnosis, which is essential for any subsequent medical or surgical treatment.
- Extemporaneous intraoperative histologic examination: an examination conducted on material taken from a patient during surgery in order to clarify the diagnosis of disease if it has not been made previously or if new diagnostic questions have arisen during surgery.
- Cytology: morphological study of isolated cells taken from solid or hollow organs by needle aspiration, washing, brushing or exfoliation techniques. Cytology can be diagnostic, if a disease is already suspected, or screening, if it is performed on apparently healthy people in order to prevent the possible occurrence of a disease (e.g., pap smear).
- Molecular pathology: consists of the application of molecular biology techniques for diagnostic purposes. Molecular pathology techniques are often characterized by very high sensitivity and specificity, but are frequently complex and expensive.
Our Specialists
Fanfani's new Pathology Anatomy Department employs the most renowned and recognized specialists in the field.
Prof. Gian Luigi Taddei graduated in Florence and specialized in Pathological Anatomy and Laboratory Techniques at the University of Parma. He has been Associate Professor at the University of Florence since 1980 and Full Professor at the same University since 2000. He was director of the section of Pathological Anatomy at the Careggi University Hospital and head of the Regional Reference Center for Gynecopathology for Tuscany for 10 years. He was president of the Scientific Society of Italian Pathologists and Cytologists (SIAPEC) and has to his credit more than 300 scientific contributions in Italian and international journals.
Dr. Carmelo Urso graduated from the University of Florence in 1982 with a degree in Medicine and Surgery; he received his specialization in Pathologic Anatomy from the University of Siena in 1986. A volunteer assistant at the Institute of Pathologic Anatomy at the University of Florence, he was appointed medical assistant and then director of the Pathologic Anatomy Service at Santa Maria Annunziata Hospital in 1990, and in 1998, he established and was in charge of the Section of Dermatopathology at the Florence Health Authority. His main field of study is Dermatopathology, with special reference to cutaneous melanocytic lesions. He has authored 160 publications with H-index of 28 (Scopus).
Dr. Galliano Tinacci received his medical degree from the University of Florence. He specialized in Pathologic Anatomy at the University of Siena. A Hospital Assistant from 1988 to 1993, Hospital Assistant Correspondent from 1993 to 1994, he is Medical Executive Level I Fascia A from 1995 to 1996 and then Hospital Medical Executive until 2017. He is director of the Complex Operative Structure of Pathological Anatomy of Pistoia and Pescia from 2017 to 2021. He is specialized in Gynecopathology, Breast Pathology and Cytopathology and author of more than 80 publications in national and international journals.
Dr. Cristina Fondi graduated in 2007 with a degree in Medicine from the University of Florence, in 2011 she received her PhD in Experimental and Clinical Oncology and, in 2016, her specialization in Pathologic Anatomy. A speaker at national and international conferences and author of several papers published in peer-reviewed journals, she currently works in the private sector as a Medical Executive and Facility Director.
