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Topical Update

Viscoelastic Haemostatic Assays in Clinical Practice

Viscoelastic Haemostatic Assays in Clinical Practice

Dr Joyce KWONG and Dr Eudora CHOW

Consultant Haematologists, Department of Pathology, United Christian Hospital, Hospital Authority

Volume 19, Issue 2, July 2024  (download full article in pdf)

Editorial note:

Viscoelastic haemostatic assays have emerged as a popular rapid point-of-care test to assess haemostasis in bleeding patients and serve to guide patient-tailored transfusion strategies. In this issue of Topical Update, Drs Joyce KWONG and Eudora CHOW share their valuable experience of using viscoelastic haemostatic assays to investigate and guide treatment in patients with challenging bleeding tendency. We welcome any feedback or suggestion. Please direct them to...

Screening of DPD Deficiency before Fluoropyrimidine Chemotherapy

Screening of DPD Deficiency before Fluoropyrimidine Chemotherapy

Dr Felix Wong

Consultant Chemical Pathologist, Queen Mary Hospital

Volume 19, Issue 1, Jan 2024  (download full article in pdf)

Editorial note:

Screening of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) deficiency before systemic fluoropyrimidine chemotherapy can improve safety and prevent the occurrence of the associated toxicity. Both genotyping and phenotyping approaches have been advocated. In this review, Dr Felix Wong compares and contrasts both approaches and explains the upcoming situation in Hong Kong in the near future. We welcome any feedback or suggestions. Please direct them to Dr Esther Hung of Education Committee, the Hong Kong...

Melioidosis: an urban outbreak in Hong Kong

Melioidosis: an urban outbreak in Hong Kong

Dr. Kristine LUK, Dr. May LEE and Dr. Wing Kin TO

Consultant Microbiologists, Department of Pathology, Princess Margaret Hospital, Hospital Authority

Volume 18, Issue 2, July 2023  (download full article in pdf)

Editorial note:

There was a significant upsurge of cases of melioidosis in Hong Kong in 2022, especially in the Kowloon region, raising public awareness to the condition. In this issue of the Topical Update, Drs. Kristine Luk, May Lee and WK To share their experience in investigating and managing the cases. We welcome any feedback or suggestion. Please direct them to Dr. Janice Lo (e-mail: janicelo@dh.gov.hk), Education Committee, The Hong Kong...

A Review on Complement Diagnostics

A Review on Complement Diagnostics


Volume 18, Issue 1, Jan 2023  (download full article in pdf)


Editorial note:


The complement system though commonly regarded as component of the innate immune system that protect our bodies from infection, it has increasingly evident that it has important roles in other immune surveillance and housekeeping functions, that it is involved in a wide and diverse range of clinical conditions. In this review, Dr Elaine Au provided an overview of the complement diagnostics and its clinical applications. We welcome any feedback or suggestions. Please direct them to Dr Elaine Au of Education Committee, the Hong Kong College of Pathologists. Opinions expressed are those of the authors or named...

Molecular diagnostics for breast cancer

Molecular diagnostics for breast cancer


Volume 17, Issue 2, July 2022  (download full article in pdf)


Editorial note:


New molecular techniques have contributed to the ever-expanding armamentarium for breast cancer diagnosis, treatment and prognostication. Since the molecular classification of breast cancer was established, pathologists have been using immunohistochemistry and DNA sequencing techniques to routinely grade and subtype breast cancer. RNA expression profiling using various platforms such as microarrays, quantitative PCR and Nanostring has also been used to guide patient treatment in early diseases. This topical update provides a concise review on the current diagnostic and prognostic modalities in breast cancer management. We welcome any feedback or...

Measurable residual disease (MRD) for Haematological Malignancy

Measurable residual disease (MRD) for Haematological Malignancy


Volume 17, Issue 1, January 2022  (download full article in pdf)


Editorial note:


Measurable residual disease (MRD) monitoring has emerged as an important indicator for risk stratification and treatment planning in patients with haematological malignancies. In the past decade, various techniques in measuring MRD have become available in Hong Kong. In this Topical Update, Dr. YIP Sze-fai provides an overview of the current techniques available for MRD monitoring. We welcome any feedback or suggestions. Please direct them to Dr. Alvin IP of Education Committee, the Hong Kong College of Pathologists. Opinions expressed are those of the authors or named individuals,...

Combined metabolomics and genomics approach for the diagnosis of inherited metabolic disorders (IMD)

Combined metabolomics and genomics approach for the diagnosis of inherited metabolic disorders (IMD)


Volume 16, Issue 2, July 2021  (download full article in pdf)


Editorial note:


In this topical update, Dr Eric Law reviews and updates on the current development in metabolomics and genomics and their integrated approach in the study of inherited metabolic disorders (IMD). We welcome any feedback or suggestions. Please direct them to Dr. Sammy Chen of Education Committee, the Hong Kong College of Pathologists. Opinions expressed are those of the authors or named individuals, and are not necessarily those of the Hong Kong College of Pathologists.



Dr Chun-yiu LAW

Consultant,...

Diagnosis of COVID-19

Diagnosis of COVID-19


Volume 16, Issue 1, January 2021  (download full article in pdf)


Editorial note


Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is undoubtedly the most topical subject not only in the medical field, but also for humanity globally. In this issue of the Topical Update, Dr. Derek Hung and Prof. Kwok Yung Yuen present an overview on the diagnosis of COVID-19, which underpins effective disease control. We welcome any feedback or suggestion. Please direct them to Dr. Janice Lo, Education Committee, The Hong Kong College of Pathologists. Opinions expressed are those of the authors or named individuals, and are not necessarily those of the Hong Kong College of Pathologists.



Dr. Derek HUNG and...

Drowning: A Rational Approach to its Diagnosis

Drowning: A Rational Approach to its Diagnosis


Volume 15, Issue 2, July 2020  (download full article in pdf)


Editorial note:


Drowning often presents in various scenarios depending on the circumstances. This Topical Update provides a proper approach to the diagnosis. We welcome any feedback or suggestions. Please direct them to Dr. FOO Ka-chung of Education Committee, the Hong Kong College of Pathologists. Opinions expressed are those of the authors or named individuals, and are not necessarily those of the Hong Kong College of Pathologists.



Dr. FOO Ka-chung

Specialty Coordinator (Forensic Pathology), Education Committee

The Hong Kong College of...

Liver injury associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors - update on clinicopathological features

Liver injury associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors - update on clinicopathological features


Volume 15, Issue 1, January 2020  (download full article in pdf)


Editorial note:


Immune checkpoint inhibitors revolutionize the field of immuno-oncology. They have demonstrated great potential in a wide range of adult cancers by reaching long-lasting objective responses and prolonging survival. Through completed and on-ongoing clinical trials, their indications continue to expand among different cancer types. However, one of their limitations is immune-related adverse events, which are most frequently reported in skin, gastrointestinal tract, and endocrine organs. Immune-related adverse events in liver are less common hepatotoxicity but still...