Clinical Physician | Shizuoka General Hospital | Japan
Dr. Kimihide Kusafuka is a distinguished pathologist at Shizuoka General Hospital, Japan, internationally recognized for his expertise in head and neck pathology, salivary gland tumors, and molecular oncopathology. His research has been instrumental in redefining diagnostic criteria, histopathological classifications, and gene alteration profiles across a spectrum of rare and aggressive neoplasms. Dr. Kusafuka has contributed significantly to the understanding of salivary duct carcinoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma, mucoepidermoid carcinoma, and solitary fibrous tumors through large-cohort analyses, multi-institutional collaborations, and advanced molecular techniques, including MYB/MYBL1 rearrangement characterization, CRTC1/3-MAML2 fusion analysis, and the identification of novel tumor variants. His scholarly output comprises 100 peer-reviewed documents, reflecting a sustained commitment to translational pathology and precision diagnostics. With more than 380 collaborators worldwide, his work has shaped global guidelines, influenced tumor classification systems, and improved prognostic assessment models for clinicians and researchers in the field. Dr. Kusafuka’s studies spanning molecular pathology, surgical pathology, and carcinoma outcome prediction—continue to strengthen diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic decision-making, ultimately improving patient outcomes and contributing to the advancement of cancer pathology. His rigorous methodologies, cross-disciplinary partnerships, and leadership in multi-center Japanese cohorts highlight his role as a leading figure in contemporary oncologic pathology. Dr. Kusafuka’s academic influence and research productivity are reflected in his metrics: 1,768 citations, 100 documents, and an h-index of 25.
Featured Publications
Kusafuka, K., et al. (2022). A symptomatic intercalated duct lesion of the parotid gland: A case report with immunohistochemical and genetic analyses. Medical Molecular Morphology. Citations: 2
Kusafuka, K., et al. (2022). Salivary gland polymorphous adenocarcinoma: Clinicopathological features and gene alterations in 36 Japanese patients. Journal of Oral Pathology and Medicine.Citations: 6
Kusafuka, K., et al. (2022). Intraoral basal cell carcinoma of the soft palate: A diagnostic pitfall. Citations: 2
Kusafuka, K., et al. (2022). The implicated clinical factors for outcomes in 304 patients with salivary duct carcinoma: Multi-institutional retrospective analysis in Japan. Head & Neck. Citations: 12
Kusafuka, K., et al. (2022). Salivary mucoepidermoid carcinoma: Histological variants, grading systems, CRTC1/3-MAML2 fusions, and clinicopathological features. Histopathology. Citations: 28