Britt-Marie Ljung

Dr. Britt-Marie Ljung is a renowned pathologist at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF), specializing in fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsies for cancer diagnosis. With a career spanning decades, she has contributed significantly to understanding breast cancer and improving diagnostic accuracy through molecular testing and quality control measures.

• Education: Medical degree from Karolinska Institute, Sweden; pathology residency at University of California, Los Angeles.

Her research focuses on cancer etiology, cytology, and the clinical impact of FNA biopsies. She has authored over 100 publications and played a key role in developing international diagnostic standards like the Yokohama System for Breast FNA.

Recent publications highlight her work in optimizing FNA for molecular studies, enhancing diagnostics in low-resource settings, and standardizing thyroid and liver biopsy protocols. Themes include breast cancer, thyroid cancer, and molecular diagnostics.

• Scientific Awards: Year Book of Cancer (1987), UCSF Outstanding Lectures (1995, 2001, 2002), Yolanda Oertel Award (2010), and multiple Top Doctor recognitions (2004–2010).

Ljung has been instrumental in advancing FNA as a cost-effective, accurate diagnostic tool, with grants focusing on clinical research and cost-effectiveness analysis. Her work bridges cytology, oncology, and medical education, particularly in training future pathologists.