Norton Children’s pediatric and perinatal pathology program offers expertise and services designed to meet the special needs of babies, children and teenagers. Norton Children’s has the only board-certified pediatric pathologists in Kentucky. Our pathologists are board certified in anatomic pathology and/or clinical pathology, as well as subspecialized in pediatric pathology. This means they have achieved the highest level of competence in these areas, as verified by a professional medical board. We provide pathology consultations throughout the commonwealth and beyond.

Pathology Services

Pathologists are an integral part of the health care team. They provide essential information that helps a care team diagnose and create treatment plans for children. Pathology services include:

• Surgical pathology: Examination and interpretation of tissue samples removed from a patient during surgery, such as a tumor, appendix or any type of tissue from a biopsy. This helps establish a diagnosis.
• Cytology: Examination of cells and clusters of cells to determine a diagnosis. Cytology is important for diagnosing some types of cancers.
• Electron microscopy: An electron microscope is a high-resolution microscope that uses electrons to create an image of a sample so that the molecules and microscopic structures can be viewed. Electron microscopy is an important diagnostic instrument routinely used to investigate a range of tissue samples, such as kidney, platelet, cilia, muscle and nerve samples.
• Fine needle aspiration: This procedure is less invasive than a traditional biopsy. A pathologist uses a needle to extract tissue samples or fluid. It can be done without an incision or general anesthesia in an inpatient or outpatient setting, helping kids avoid the operating room for a biopsy.
• Medical kidney disease pathology: We employ the only board-certified renal pathologist in Kentucky, Susan C. Coventry, M.D.
• Perinatal pathology: Services include placental pathology, external fetal examination and fetal autopsy. We provide perinatal pathology services for Greater Louisville.
• Autopsy: We offer a broad range of autopsy services to meet the needs of clinicians and families. If an autopsy is to be performed, a written report takes about 10 weeks to complete. Preliminary results may be available immediately by contacting the child’s physician. Results of an autopsy performed by Norton Children’s Hospital physicians will be sent to the child’s physician. By law, some deaths must be reported to the coroner’s office, and the coroner may order an autopsy. The deputy coroner assigned to the child’s case can assist as needed. Call (502) 574-6262 and ask for the deputy coroner assigned to the case.

Results of a coroner-ordered autopsy can be obtained from the child’s physician or by writing:

Jefferson County Coroner’s Office
10511 LaGrange Rd
Bingham Building
Louisville, KY 40223

If you write to request a report, be sure to include your relationship (parent, guardian) to the child and provide a copy of your photo identification, the child’s name, date of death and your mailing address.

The Norton Children’s Difference

The care your child needs is close to home at Norton Children’s. With a 125-year presence in Louisville, Norton Children’s is a leader in pediatric care across Kentucky and Southern Indiana, providing an expanded footprint that includes:

• Norton Children’s Hospital – The region’s only full-service, free-standing pediatric hospital and Louisville’s only Level I Pediatric Trauma Center. Norton Children’s Hospital also has one of the largest Level IV (highest level) neonatal intensive care units in the country.
• Numerous regional outpatient centers and extensive pediatrician and pediatric specialist offices throughout the area.
• Norton Women’s & Children’s Hospital – The only women’s hospital in Louisville, providing care dedicated to the needs of women and children.
• Norton Children’s Medical Center – A unique regional outpatient facility designed “Just for Kids,” bringing pediatric care to northeastern Jefferson County and the surrounding area.

Norton Children’s Offers Specialized Programs and Services, Including:

• Norton Children’s Cancer Institute, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, and the Addison Jo Blair Cancer Care Center, which is one of the oldest oncology programs continuously accredited by the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer.
• Norton Children’s Heart Institute, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, a pioneer in pediatric cardiothoracic surgery. Norton Children’s heart transplant surgeons performed Kentucky’s first heart transplant in a newborn in 1986, making the hospital the second site in the United States for infant transplants. Norton Children’s Hospital is home to the Jennifer Lawrence Cardiac Intensive Care Unit.
• Pediatric neurology and neurosurgery through Norton Children’s Neuroscience Institute, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, including a Level 4 epilepsy center
• Orthopedic surgery and rehabilitation
• Wendy Novak Diabetes Center