by Understanding Anatomic Pathology:
Anatomic pathology, also known as biological pathology or just simply pathology, is a medical specialty that is concerned with the diagnosis of disease through the gross and microscopic examination of tissues (obtained by biopsy or surgery). Anatomic pathologists play a vital role in modern medical practice by aiding the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of diseases such as cancer. In this article, we will explore the field of anatomic pathology in detail including the various subspecialties, the people involved, and new advances in the domain.
Subspecialties of Anatomic Pathology
anatomic pathology can be broadly divided into several subspecialties based on the organ systems or types of diseases involved:
Surgical Pathology
Surgical pathology is one of the major subspecialties and involves examining tissues/organs that are surgically removed from patients. The pathologist provides a diagnosis by examining the gross/macroscopic features with the naked eye or using a magnifying glass, followed by microscopic examination of stained tissue sections. Common specimens analyzed include biopsies of tumors, lymph nodes, breast lumps, skin lesions, etc.
Cytopathology
Cytopathology deals with examining cells and tissue fluid samples obtained via minimally invasive procedures like fine needle aspirations or brushings. The pathologist identifies cell abnormalities by staining and microscopy. Common specimens includeeffusions (pleural/pericardial fluids), aspirations of thyroid/breast lumps, cerebrospinal fluid analysis, etc. Cytopathology plays a crucial role in cancer screening and diagnosis.
Autopsy/Forensic Pathology
Autopsy or forensic pathology involves examining corpses to determine the cause and manner of death, through the gross autopsy and microscopic evaluation of tissues/organs. Autopsies help identify undiagnosed diseases, errors in medical care, and provide invaluable medical/legal information. Forensic pathologists perform autopsies in cases of sudden, unexpected, unexplained or violent deaths.
Neuropathology
Neuropathologists specialize in diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system. They examine brain and spinal cord biopsies/autopsies of patients with neurological disorders like dementia, infections, traumatic injuries etc. Microscopy and immunohistochemistry help arrive at specific neuropathological diagnoses.
People Involved
There are several key people involved in anatomic pathology services:
Pathologists: Medical doctors who specialize in disease diagnosis by microscopic examination of surgical/needle biopsy samples, cytopathology, and autopsy specimens. They integrate clinical information to arrive at definitive conclusions.
Pathology Assistants: Work under the supervision of pathologists to prepare and analyze specimens, perform autopsies, collect quality assurance data, etc.
Histotechnologists: Highly trained laboratory professionals who process, embed, section, and stain tissues/samples to prepare slides for microscopic examination by pathologists.
Molecular Pathologists: Use sophisticated techniques like DNA sequencing, PCR, immunohistochemistry to diagnose and classify diseases at the molecular level. This helps determine patient prognosis and guide targeted therapies.
Technicians: Assist pathologists in operations like accessioning, dissection, documentation and preservation of autopsy specimens.
Digital Pathology
Over the past decade, digital pathology has emerged as a burgeoning field that utilizes whole slide imaging (WSI) to view slides on computer screens instead of traditional microscopes. Key benefits of digital pathology include:
– Telemicroscopy: Ability to view slides remotely at multiple locations simultaneously for consultation/teaching purposes.
– Image analysis: Automated tools for quantification of staining results, detection of cancer grades/stages to aid workflow and diagnosis.
– Data integration: Linking images with EMRs for storage, retrieval and sharing patient/case data with other health IT systems.
– artificial intelligence: Deep learning algorithms are being developed to analyze WSI digitally and predict diagnostic/prognostic markers to assist pathologists.
– Increased productivity: Multiple users can simultaneously view same case on computers instead of passing around microscope slides.
While digital pathology shows great promise, fully replacing microscopy will take time as many pathologists still prefer the versatility and tactile feedback of traditional microscope examination currently. Integration of both digital and traditional techniques will likely be the way forward.
Anatomic pathology is an extremely vital but often unseen medical specialty that relies on careful macroscopic and microscopic tissue analysis to accurately diagnose diseases. The field has evolved from manual microscopy to also incorporating molecular diagnostics and digital pathology techniques. Pathologists play a central role in modern healthcare by aiding clinical management, cancer screening, medical education, and research through evaluation of routine surgical samples as well as autopsies. The clinical applications and knowledge expansion in anatomic pathology will surely continue to grow in the future.
Note:
1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
