Manipur: RIMS installs two world-class pathology equipment

Our Correspondent

Imphal, June 2 (EMN): In an effort to enhance the proper diagnosis facilities at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Imphal, two world class equipment were installed at the pathology department of the institute on Wednesday.

Director of RIMS Prof. A Santa Singh and department officials formally inaugurated the equipment. Medical Superintendent of RIMS Prof. N Sanjib was also present at the occasion.

The two equipment are Cryostat (frozen section) and Automatic immunohistochemistry Stainer (ventana). According to the officials of the Pathology department, the Cryostat machine will immensely help surgeons during oncosurgery (cancer surgery).

‘This machine will enable us to give an intraoperative report for clearance of cancer margin within a few minutes,’ they said.

It will also help the Nephrology and Dermatology departments for immunofluorescence study during full work up of the patients.

On the other hand, Automatic immunohistochemistry Stainer (ventana) is a state of the art instrument at par with the highest oncology centres of the country for molecular diagnosis of cancer. This instrument has standardised immunohistochemistry and will help in diagnosis and subtyping of many malignancies.

“This instrument was procured under DHR-ICMR Advanced Molecular Oncology Diagnostic Services (DIAMOnDS) project under national centre for disease informatics and research-Indian council of Medical research (NDCDR-ICMR) and we are providing free molecular test for breast and lung cancer,” Prof. Sushma Kh of Pathology department said, “Our test will immensely help in cancer care for targeted therapy.”

The project will also be expanded by adding molecular testing of two more cancers namely colorectal cancer and endometrial carcinoma very shortly, she added.

Breast, lung and cervix uteri cancer are the first three common cancers among the females while lung, stomach and colon among the males in Manipur, as per the latest population based cancer registry programme (2018) under NDCDR.

Many new types of equipment have been added to RIMS which is the only medical college in the entire Northeast and West Bengal to figure amongst the top 40 medical institutions and universities of India. Preparations are also on for the opening of world class modular operation theatres in the institute.