Mumbai : Dr. Anita Maria Borges, one of India’s most respected oncopathologists, passed away at the age of 78 on September 19, 2025, after suffering a sudden heart attack in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, where she was attending a medical education programme.
Fondly known as the “Queen of Histopathology,” Dr. Borges dedicated her life to advancing cancer diagnosis in India. She was the daughter of Dr. Ernest Borges, a legendary cancer surgeon and former director of Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai. After completing her medical education at Topiwala National Medical College and Nair Hospital, she trained further at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York.
On returning to India, Dr. Borges made outstanding contributions to diagnostic cancer pathology. She served as Professor and Head of Surgical Pathology at Tata Memorial Hospital until 2004, later leading the Centre of Oncopathology in Wadala, heading SRL Diagnostics’ Centre of Excellence in Histopathology, and guiding the histopathology department at SL Raheja Hospital.
Her diagnostic reports were considered benchmarks across the country, influencing treatment plans for countless cancer patients. Remembered as both a perfectionist and a generous mentor, she often travelled to smaller cities to share her knowledge with young doctors, shaping the next generation of pathologists.
Throughout her career, Dr. Borges received several accolades, including the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Indian Society of Head and Neck Oncologists. She also held international leadership positions, serving as Vice-President (Asia) of the International Academy of Pathology.
Her passing is a huge loss to the medical community. Colleagues, students, and patients alike remember her as a trailblazer whose work transformed cancer care in India.
