Nerve and Muscle Pathology

The Department has been interpreting muscle biopsies for over 30 years.

Currently, biopsies are received on a regular basis from dozens of institutions throughout the Southeast. Histochemistry, electron microscopy, and immunohistochemistry are available.  Instructions for sending biopsies are available linked below, or upon request by calling 919-684-6667 or 919-684-2332. These are also posted on the Neuropathology website. Questions are welcomed by phone or email. Please send clinical information along with the biopsy.

Consults

• For nerve and muscle please follow special protocol (below)
• Send completed clinical information form with case
• Please call our office at 919-684-2533 with any questions

Research

Anne F. Buckley, MD PhD is Assistant Professor of Pathology and Chief of Nerve and Muscle Pathology.  She is a member of the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center, and conducts basic research on brain tumors and brain development in collaboration with Chay Kuo in the Department of Cell Biology. Dr. Buckley is involved with translational and basic research on muscle and renal disorders with other research groups at Duke. In addition to muscle pathology, her clinical practice includes general neuropathology and medical renal pathology. Dr. Buckley is also Medical Director of the Clinical Electron Microscopy Laboratory and the PhotoPath Lab.

Thomas J. Cummings, MD,  Professor of Pathology, and Professor of Ophthalmology, has active clinical and research interests in the following areas: Ophthalmic pathology (eye tumors, pathology of the optic nerve); neuropathology (brain tumors, neural tube defects, peripheral nerve and skeletal muscle pathology); orthopaedic pathology (bone and soft tissue tumors); leprosy involvement of the eye, peripheral nerve, bone, and soft tissues; and, general surgical pathology.

Christine Hulette, MD, Professor of Pathology, maintains a long term diagnostic interest in neurodegenerative disease. She is responsible for undergraduate medical education in Pathology at Duke School of Medicine and is actively involved in medical education research.

Giselle Lopez, MD PhD, Assistant Professor of Pathology, is a member of the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center, and has clinical and research interests in brain tumors. Her research explores mechanisms of malignant transformation, along with exploring new avenues for potential treatments.

Roger McLendon, MD is Professor of Pathology, and a member of the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center.  He investigates the role of molecular expression in brain tumor classification, diagnosis and therapeutic response. He is also the Director of the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center - Brain Tumor Biorepository.

Shih-Hsiu Jerry Wang, MD PhD, Assistant Professor of Pathology, has a long term interest in neurodevelopment and neurodegenerative diseases. He is actively involved in research projects with the Duke Center for Neurodegeneration and Neurotherapeutics and the Bryan Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center Brain Bank. His clinical practice includes surgical neuropathology, muscle biopsies, and autopsy pathology.