Salla Charitini

Education & Academic Titles

  • Medical School Graduate, the University of Athens («Honors», 1983)
  • Cytology Resident Graduate (1989)
  • Professor of Applied Sciences (Histopathology), Technological Educational Institute of Athens (1987)
  • Instructor/Lecturer on Pancreatic and Bile Duct Cytopathology - The European Federation of Cytology Societies (3rd EFCS Annual Tutorial, Kymi Greece, September 2010)
  • Founding member of the Hellenic Pancreas Institute

Further training

  • 16th International Workshop on Clinical Cytology (Gynecological and non-gynecological cytology), Vienna, Austria - the International Academy of Clinical Cytology (October 1990)
  • 18th International Workshop on Clinical Cytology (Gynecological and non-gynecological cytology), Vienna, Austria - the International Academy of Clinical Cytology (October 1992)
  • Training on cell cultures and contemporary molecular biology techniques, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada (June-July 1993)
  • Training on Pap test evaluation with the use of liquid-based cytology, Sion, Switzerland (October 1998)
  • Training in EUS-FNA Pancreatic and Liver Cytopathology, Paoli Institute - Calmettes, Marseille, France (April 2003)
  • 3o Annual European Workshop, Kymi, Greece - under the auspices of the European Federation of Cytology Societies (September 2010)
  • 30 seminars under the auspices of the Greek Cytology Society (one of them was 50 hours long/Center for Professional Training, Agios Savvas Hospital)
  • Participation in 72 conferences (61 Greek and 11 international conferences, respectively).

Doctoral Degree

Ph.D. Candidate (graduated with the highest honors), Medical School, the University of Athens (Thesis: “Mucin Producing Pancreatic Cystic Neoplasms”)

Memberships - Editorial Board Membership 

  • Member of the Hellenic Society of Clinical Cytology
  • Member of the Hellenic Society of Mastology
  • Member of the European Federation of Cytology Societies
  • Editor at “Cytopathology,” a journal issued by the British Society of Clinical Cytology (pancreas, liver, bile duct)

Professional background

  • 2013 to present: Head of the Cytopathology Department Hygeia - Mitera Hospital. Scientific coordinator at Hygeia Hospital.
  • 1990-2013: Cytopathology Department of Athens General Hospital G. Gennimatas (Director of the Department, 2010 – 2013)
  • 1984-1989: Resident in Pathology and Cytology (Agia Sophia Children’s Hospital, NIMTS, Sotiria Hospital)

Teaching experience

  • Gennimatas Hospital: Teaching (theory and microscopy) residents in cytopathology and pathology (approx. 20 residents during my 23-year-long career at G. Gennimatas Hospital)
  • Cytopathology and its connection to the above specialties: teaching residents and gynecologists, gastroenterologists, and endocrinologists 
  • Gennimatas Hospital - Center for Professional Training: Breast Cytopathology (two years) and Soft Tissue Cytopathology 
  • Attikon Hospital (Prof. P. Karakitsos): Pancreatic, Liver, and Bile Duct Cytopathology (theory and slide seminar) for residents under the auspices of the Cytopathology Department of the University of Athens 
  • Pancreatic, liver, and bile duct cytopathology: training cytopathologists and pathologists

Clinical & research interest

Clinical interest

  • Pancreatic, Liver, and Bile Duct Cytopathology (experience on >2500 EUS-FNA pancreatic-liver cases and biliary brush cytology material)
  • Cytology of the Female Genital Tract
  • Thyroid Cytopathology
  • Central Nervous System Cytopathology
  • Quality Assurance Systems in Cytopathology Labs

Research interests

  • Cell cultures:
    - Participated in the research program of the Greek Central Board of Health (research program Ε-391) that was focused on researching the hormonal activity of pituitary adenoma by reverse hemolytic plaque assay (1995-1997)
    - Conducted 33 cell culture experiments on the same number of pituitary adenomas by stimulating and inhibiting the secretion of hormones produced by them (1995-1997)
  • Application of Molecular Biology Techniques on Pancreatic, Liver, and Bile Duct Cytopathology

Honors & Awards 

  • 1st Prize, 9th Panhellenic Congress of Clinical Cytology “Mediterranean Days”
    (May 2011)
  • 1st Prize, 23rd Panhellenic Medical Congress (May 1997)
  • Nominated for the 1st Prize of the 13th International Cytology Congress in Tokyo (10-14 May 1998), among 7 other studies

Recent publications

  • (2013 – 2015) Presentation of four cases on Pancreatic Cytopathology at HIPON PROJECT within the framework of the European Platform of Lifelong Learning in Histopathology under the auspices of the Medical School of the University of Athens. The presentation title was “HIPON/ E-modules on histopathology: a valuable online tool for students, researchers, and professionals.” Approved by Education, Audiovisual and Executive Agency, Brussels, E.E. 17.7.2012 (Reference: 531203-LLP-2012-GR-KA3-KA3MP) http://www.hiponproject.eu/
  • Titles of the 10 latest publications (PubMed –  > 350 citations, up to 12/2015)
  • Diagnostic accuracy and clinical significance of the fine needle aspiration Ki-67 labelling index in pancreatic endocrine tumours. Kaklamanos M, Karoumpalis I, Salla C, Thomas D, Kanakis G, Alexandraki K, Sougioultzis S, Diakatou E, Kontogeorgos G, Kaltsas G. Endocr Relat Cancer. 2011 Oct 27;18(6):L1-3.
  • Endoscopic ultrasound staging and guided fine needle aspiration biopsy in patients with resectable pancreatic malignancies: a single-center prospective experience. Karoumpalis I, Sigalas P, Salla C, Diakatou E, Balatsos V, Zografos G, Delis V. Onkologie. 2011; 34(10):533-7.
  • Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration cytology diagnosis of solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas: a report of 3 cases. Chatzipantelis P, Salla C, Apostolou G, Christodoulou L, Kakiopoulos G, Patralexis C. Acta Cytol. 2010 Sep-Oct;54(5):701-6.
  • Fine needle aspiration cytology diagnosis of primary renal lymphoma involving the pleura: a case report. Chatzipantelis P, Mastorakis E, Tzortzakakis D, Salla C. Acta Cytol. 2010 Jan-Feb;54(1):71-4.
  • CK19 and CD10 expression in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors diagnosed by endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology. Salla C, Konstantinou P, Chatzipantelis P. Cancer. 2009 Dec 25;117(6):516-21.
  • The role of cytomorphology and proliferative activity in predicting biologic behavior of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors: a study by endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology. Chatzipantelis P, Konstantinou P, Kaklamanos M, Apostolou G, Salla C. Cancer. 2009 Jun 25;117(3):211-6.
  • Pancreatic metastasis of thymic neuroendocrine carcinoma: is there a role for endoscopic ultrasound?: report of a case and review of the literature. Varytimiadis K, Kalaitzakis E, Salla C, Ghika E, Pandazopoulou A, Karoumpalis I. Pancreas. 2009 Mar;38(2):230-2.
  • Neuroendocrine differentiation of anaplastic carcinoma of the pancreas in a case report diagnosed by endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology. Salla C, Sakellariou S, Doumani I, Kakiopoulos G, Chatzipantelis P, Karoumpalis I. Pancreas. 2009 Jan;38(1):103-5.
  • Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors: a study of 48 cases. Chatzipantelis P, Salla C, Konstantinou P, Karoumpalis I, Sakellariou S, Doumani I. Cancer. 2008 Aug 25;114(4):255-62.
  • Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal stromal tumors of the stomach. A study of 17 cases. Chatzipantelis P, Salla C, Karoumpalis I, Apessou D, Sakellariou S, Doumani I, Papaliodi E, Konstantinou P. J Gastrointestin Liver Dis. 2008 Mar;17(1):15-20.

pancBG

Hellenic Pancreas Institute

The Hellenic Pancreas Institute aims at promoting and spreading knowledge on pancreatic diseases and their successful treatment based on the latest developments. Our work focuses on three distinct but complementary pillars:

  1. The advancement of scientific knowledge on pancreatic diseases through research and studies that lead to developing the most effective treatments.
  2. Awareness raising among the public and primary care physicians on the importance of timely diagnosis and the treatment of pancreatic diseases based on the latest standards. 
  3. The collaboration with organizations in Greece and abroad to effectively promote the goals of the Hellenic Pancreas Institute.