Petur Snaebjornsson

I have been working at the Netherlands Cancer Institute since 2013. I was trained as a clinical pathologist at the VUmc in Amsterdam. I studied Medicine at the University of Reykjavik, Iceland.

Gastrointestinal (GE) pathology is one of my two main areas of focus. Within gastrointestinal oncology at the Netherlands Cancer Institute, we specialize in colon cancer,  recurrent rectal cancer, complex pelvic surgery,  anal cancer, appendix tumors (including pseudomyxoma peritonei), HIPEC operations for peritoneal metastases, liver metastases/tumors, esophageal tumors, (hereditary) stomach tumors, small intestine tumors, neuroendocrine tumors and molecular diagnostics of the GE tumors. The Department of Pathology participates in many clinical trials for metastatic disease of the digestive tract. There is also close collaboration with the Netherlands Cancer Institute, the research institute of the Netherlands Cancer Institute, for various studies. The pathology department also works closely with the Familial Tumors Outpatient Clinic (PFT) on diagnostics in the context of hereditary colon tumors. I am on the board of Dutch Colorectal Cancer Group (DCCG) and on the Dutch guideline committee for colorectal cancer. In 2016 I obtained my PhD in the context of colon cancer. At the Netherlands Cancer Institute, in addition to my diagnostic work, I work on scientific research into colon cancer.

My other main area of interest is the diagnosis and scientific research into primary tumor unknown (PTO). That is when the source/tumor type is unknown. For this we use whole genome sequencing, WGS, i.e. complete DNA analysis. In the Netherlands, we are at the forefront of research into the role of WGS in diagnostics. See also this interview. I also specialize in soft tissue pathology.