Pathology

Karen Dunn BVSc(Hons) MRCVS

Karen Dunn graduated from the University of Queensland, Australia, in 1988. After 18 months in a small animal hospital with a dermatology referral service, in 1990 Karen moved to the U.K., and in 1996 completed a veterinary pathology residency programme at the Animal Health Trust. In 2001, after a 4 year study of canine brain tumours, she returned to diagnostic pathology, joining the team at Rest Associates, where she was able to pursue her longstanding interest in ocular pathology, joining BrAVO and regularly attending both British and European Ophthalmology meetings.

Karen has on two occasions visited well known veterinary ocular pathologist Professor Richard (Dick) Dubielzig at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin. Karen resigned from Rest Associates in the Summer of 2006, to pursue her passion for ocular pathology, first spending one month locuming for Dick's very busy ocular pathology COPLOW practice and supervising the Ocular Pathology Fellow while Dick was taking some ‘time out' to continue writing his much anticipated book on ocular pathology. At this time, Karen set up EyePathLab through North Kent Referrals, a specialist referral practice in the Medway towns, in order to concentrate almost exclusively on ocular pathology.

Karen routinely trims in all whole eye specimens sent to her practice personally - this service is not available at many commercial laboratories, and is most important for whole eye specimens, as the gross examination may reveal specific areas of interest for histopathological examination, which might otherwise be missed. A number of tissue sections, including a circumferential section of the whole eye, and approximately 4 to 7 additional transverse sections from the eye are prepared and examined for each case. Reports are usually available within one week, and have a gross description and detailed histopathology description, along with morphological diagnoses and comments. Gross and histological digital photographs are available on request - see price list for further information. Follow-up information regarding cases or discussion of report findings is always welcome.

The banner above the menu bar, along the top of the page, shows a gross photo of a medulloepithelioma from a 1.5 year old DSH cat. Next to it there is a photomicrograph that shows the Flexner-Wintersteiner rosettes seen within the microscopic structure of the medulloepithelioma. The image below shows Homer-Wright rosettes and areas of palisading within the tumour.

Please click here to access the EyePathLab submission form which should accompany all samples and on sample submission advice and charges for further information.

Samples should then be submitted to:

North Kent Referrals, Warren Road, Blue Bell Hill, Kent ME5 9RD Turnaround is usually 7-10 days

If you would like further details of the service, Karen can be contacted on karen.dunn@northkentvets.com or you may phone 01634 666655.

Charges

Cytology £22.50 for up to 3 slides from a single case
Whole Eye £55.50 (equine or other larger eyes by arrangement, please call to discuss)
Bilateral enucleation £85.00
Biopsy £32.00
Copy slide/s £10.00 per case
Photos £15.00 per case (emailed as jpeg files)
All prices are subject to VAT at the current rate. Practices will be invoiced monthly.