Patient CareFor Patients

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What do I need to know if my doctor schedules a biopsy?
A. If your doctor has scheduled a biopsy it means that there is an area or growth in your body about which he or she would like to have more detailed information. Most biopsies take place directly in your physician’s office or in an ambulatory setting. The specimen obtained from any kind of biopsy (whether it is a pap smear, a colon polyp, or FNA - an aspiration biopsy of your thyroid gland, for example) is then sent to a pathology lab for examination and interpretation. Once this is done the results are recorded in a pathology report.

Q. What different types of biopsies and procedures are there?
A. The following are among the most common, long-standing and well-developed procedures administered by technicians and pathology physicians through the NYU Langone Medical Center Department of Pathology and its faculty members in New York: Surgical Biopsies, Flow Cytometry, Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA), Pap Smear, and Skin biopsy. Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) biopsies, for example, are performed by pathologists placing a thin needle into a lump or bump that has been detected. For a more detailed explanation of these procedures, please see our glossary list of technical terms here and the work of pathologists.

Q. What is a Pap smear?
A. A Pap smear is a very common test procedure named after the pathologist George Papanicolaou (1883 – 1962) and developed in the 1940s in which sample cells from a woman’s cervix are screened for abnormalities, most often for cervical cancer or sexually transmitted diseases.

Q. What is a fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy?
A. Fine Needle Aspiration biopsy (FNA) is a very safe and effective alternative, in some cases, to surgery for obtaining samples. In the procedure, cells are collected by drawing them out (or "aspirating" them) through a fine needle. FNA biopsies are ideal for samples from the pancreas, lung, liver, breast, lymph node or thyroid - areas which would otherwise require elaborate surgery - and the technique can yield almost immediate results.

Q. Are all NYU Pathologists Board Certified?
A. For quality assurances, all our pathologists are board eligible or certified by the American Board of Pathology, which means that they have achieved the highest level of competence in their specialty as verified by a professional board. Moreover, the American Board of Pathology has determined that all newly board certified pathologists since 2006 will need to be recertified every ten years.

Q. What insurance carriers does NYU Pathology accept?
A. NYU Langone Medical Center Pathology accepts a wide assortment of insurance carriers. An extensive overview can be found in the insurance list.

Q. Why do I sometimes get two bills?
A. In most cases, your insurance is billed directly. If you receive two bills for a pathology service, it means that two separate fees have been assessed, one for the technical and laboratory processing component (technical fee) and one for the physician interpreting the results and providing the diagnosis (professional fee). Since a pathologist evaluates each case individually, the fee structure varies according to the work involved. You can see how this applies in the pathway of a specimen for diagnosis. Sometimes arrangements are made so that both technical and professional fee charges can be combined (global fee). If you have any other questions about your bill, please call 1-800-426-4576.

Q. What is NYU Pathology Associates?
A. NYU Pathology Associates designates a faculty physicians’ group for medical and procedural services who are part of the NYU Faculty Group Practice (FGP) and of the NYU Langone Medical Center in a broad number of pathology specialties. These are the physicians that provide their services for any pathology aspect of your medical care.

Q. How long does it take to get the results?
A. Depending on the urgency and type of analysis, the “turnaround” will generally take between three and five days. Urgent cases are returned within 24 hours, but most biopsies that do not require additional studies are available with 24 – 48 hours of receipt. This means that the length of time for the return does not necessarily indicate which diagnosis the results will yield. Keep in mind, too, that some specimens may require additional studies, such as immunohistochemistry or molecular analysis, which can add to the duration as well.

Q. How will I be notified of the results?
A. Your physician will be notified immediately with any abnormal results. In nearly all cases, the results of your pathology report will be given to you by your clinician or surgeon and discussed with you in private as soon as your report is available.

Q. How do I interpret the results of my report?
A. Your doctor will help you understand the findings of your report. You can find some general guidelines for reading a pathology report and interpreting its sections in the explanation how to read a pathology report.

Q. Where can a find a list that explains the technical terms in my pathology report?
A. Your doctor will be there to help you understand the results of the pathology report, but there is an extensive list of many of the pathology terms you will encounter in a typical report or in other instances in our glossary. See also how to read a pathology report.

Q. What should I do if I would like a copy of my report?
A. We request that patients ask their referring physician if they wish to obtain a copy of their pathology report. The referring physician is the doctor who discussed the results of the report with you.

Q. What steps do I take if I would like a second opinion?
A. A second opinion is often advisable and frequently sought by physicians or patients. You should discuss the results with your doctor as soon as possible. For a second opinion, a 24-hour notice is required in order to allow for the collection of slides and reports, so that they will be ready upon your arrival. As slides are fragile material and in some situations irreplaceable, we ask patients to adhere strictly to this timeframe and let us know right away if they are needed again. Most importantly, if your slides or results will be evaluated by a different doctor, HIPAA regulations for your protection require that you fill out a patient release form, where you authorize the disclosure of your health information to another doctor. This release form needs to be signed by you or by someone authorized by to you act on your behalf.

Q. Is there a way for me to get information on current medical research studies or participate in current clinical trials?
A. In general, you should consult with your physician about clinical trials and whether they could be beneficial for you. If you decide that you are interested, you may be able to participate in a number of ongoing clinical trails that are at the forefront of medical research studies. A list of current trials and their eligibility requirements can be found here. For any additional information on clinical trials, please call the NYU Clinical Trials Office at (212) 263 6485.

Q. I am planning to become an organ donor. What do I need to do?
A. The NYU Department of Pathology is not involved in organ donation. But it is very easy to become an organ donor and give the “gift of life.” Note that it is important to discuss your wishes with your family members, so that they are aware of them. Once you have made the decision to become an organ and tissue donor in New York State, you simply sign the back section of your Driver’s License or Non-Driver ID to declare that you are making an “anatomical gift” (you no longer need two witnesses to do so). In addition, it is recommended that you enroll in the New York State Organ and Tissue Donor Registry. You can find out more about organ donation at the National Organ Donation Initiative or The New York Organ Donor Network.

Q. I would like to leave my body to science after my death. What steps can I take in order to do so?
A. The study of the human body after death is an essential part for the teaching of physicians and for advances in surgery and medical research. If, for example, you are no longer able to register as an organ donor due to your age, your generous consideration of donating your body can be a valuable alternative in support of research and in the service of teaching. The NYU Department of Pathology is not involved in body donation gifts. To find out more about the arrangements you can make in order to donate your body to NYU Langone Medical Center after death, please contact the Anatomical Donation Program at (212) 263 5378. Information can also be found for the program offered through the Associated Medical Schools of New York.