The primary goal of pathology is to determine the nature and extent of diseases, which helps guide treatment decisions and patient management. Pathologists use various laboratory techniques, including microscopy, molecular biology, and other advanced diagnostic tests, to examine samples obtained from patients, such as biopsy specimens, blood, urine, and other bodily fluids.
Pathology can be broadly divided into two main branches:
1. Anatomical Pathology:
- Also known as surgical pathology, anatomical pathology involves the examination of tissues and organs obtained from surgical procedures or autopsies.
- An anatomical pathologist examines tissue samples under a microscope, looking for abnormal cellular changes that indicate the presence of disease.
- This branch includes subspecialties such as neuropathology (study of diseases of the nervous system), dermatopathology (study of skin diseases), and cytopathology (study of cellular samples, including Pap smears).
2. Clinical Pathology:
- Clinical pathology, also known as laboratory medicine, focuses on the analysis of bodily fluids and other samples to diagnose and monitor diseases.
- Clinical pathologists interpret laboratory test results, which can include blood tests, urine tests, molecular diagnostics, and microbiology studies.
- They play a crucial role in the diagnosis and monitoring of conditions such as diabetes, infectious diseases, cancer, and autoimmune disorders.