The pathologist collects some of these samples themselves, for example, for the diagnosis of cancer of the breast or the prostate.
The specimens include fluids and tissue smears mainly for diagnosis and prevention of cancer. Modern Anatomical Pathologists examine not only samples of solid tissue, but also small specimens of separated cells. A tissue diagnosis is essential before starting treatment involving major surgery, radiation or drugs, treatments which may have major side effects. A large part of this is the detection and diagnosis of cancer.
The work of most Anatomical Pathologists is, however, on tissue from living patients. The latter is a small but important component of the work for establishing the cause in cases of sudden or unexpected death, for examining disease progression, including the response to treatment or lack of a response, and in criminal cases (forensic pathology) helping police in their investigations. The tissue on which the diagnosis is made may be biopsy material taken from a patient in the operating theatre, on the ward or from an autopsy (post-mortem). For this, Anatomical Pathologists need a broad-based knowledge and understanding of the pathological and clinical aspects of many diseases. For further information on each discipline please click on one of the following:Īnatomical Pathology is the branch of pathology that deals with the tissue diagnosis of disease. These relate to either the methods used or the types of disease which they investigate. Some pathologists also see patients and are involved directly in the day-to-day delivery of patient care.Ĭurrently pathology has nine major areas of activity. Whether it’s a GP arranging a blood test or a surgeon wanting to know the nature of the lump removed at operation, the definitive answer is usually provided by a pathologist. The doctors you see in surgery or at a clinic all depend on the knowledge, diagnostic skills and advice of pathologists.
Some of these changes show the potential to develop a disease, while others show its presence, cause or severity or monitor its progress or the effects of treatment. Pathologists are specialist medical practitioners who study the cause of disease and the ways in which diseases affect our bodies by examining changes in the tissues and in blood and other body fluids. That's certainly a side of pathology, but in fact it’s far more likely that pathologists are busy in a hospital clinic or laboratory helping living people. In fact it has been said that "Medicine IS Pathology".ĭue to the popularity of many television programs, the word ‘pathology’ conjures images of dead bodies and people in lab coats investigating the cause of suspicious deaths for the police. Pathology plays a vital role across all facets of medicine throughout our lives, from pre-conception to post mortem. Pathology is integral to the diagnosis of every cancer. It underpins every aspect of medicine, from diagnostic testing and monitoring of chronic diseases to cutting-edge genetic research and blood transfusion technologies. Pathology is the medical specialty concerned with the study of the nature and causes of diseases.
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