Pathology

What Is Pathology? Information on Tests, Process, and Reports

Pathology is a medical specialty that plays an important role in the diagnosis, treatment planning, and follow-up of diseases. By examining tissues, blood, and various body fluids, pathology is one of the most critical departments in a hospital because it helps determine the cause of disease.

Pathology forms the foundation of accurate diagnosis and treatment in every area of health. It creates a bridge between science and medicine. From cancer diagnosis to the management of chronic diseases, it affects nearly every aspect of patient care through the right laboratory tests.

At Daviva Health Group’s Pathology Department, services are provided in every area of patient care, from diagnostic tests to treatment recommendations, from the use of genetic testing to disease prevention.

What Is Pathology?

The word pathology comes from the combination of the Greek words pathos, meaning disease, and logos, meaning science. Its exact meaning is “the science of disease.” Pathology is a medical specialty that focuses on studying the causes, mechanisms, and effects of diseases and serves as a vital bridge between science and patient care. Doctors who specialize in pathology are called pathologists.

Pathologists analyze tissue, blood, and body fluid samples to diagnose diseases, determine disease severity, and guide treatment.

What Are the Fields of Pathology?

Pathology has eight main areas of activity

1. Anatomical Pathology
2. Chemical Pathology
3. Forensic Pathology
4. General Pathology
5. Genetic Pathology
6. Hematology
7. Immunopathology
8. Microbiology

How Does the Pathological Examination Process Work?

Pathology laboratories play a vital role in the diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment processes of modern medicine.

The pathology examination process proceeds as follows

1. Step: Sample Collection

The sample to be examined may vary from a blood sample to a tissue biopsy or a urine sample. Whatever sample is to be examined is collected from the patient by a specialist in the field. The collected sample is labeled with a code number so it can be linked to the patient.

1. Step: Delivery to the Laboratory

After the sample to be examined is taken from the patient, it is sent to the appropriate pathology laboratory. The pathology laboratory may be within the hospital or may be sent to different centers for more detailed examination. It is important that the collected samples reach the laboratory on time and under proper conditions.

1. Step: Acceptance and Registration

The sample that reaches the laboratory is recorded in the laboratory information system. In this process, it is important that the sample is matched with the relevant patient.

1. Step: Preparation and Examination

Depending on the type of sample collected, preparations are made for analysis. According to the type of examination to be performed, in biochemistry, blood samples may be centrifuged to separate plasma or serum. In microbiology, swabs are cultured in special media to promote bacterial growth. In histopathology, tissue samples are fixed in formalin, embedded in paraffin wax, and sliced into ultra-thin sections to be prepared for staining.

1. Step: Analysis and Interpretation

Basic scientific studies are carried out. After microscopic and macroscopic examinations (the size, weight, color, consistency of the tissue, or the structure, arrangement, and deviations from normal of the cells) are performed, the pathologist prepares a report of the result.

Why Is Pathology Important?

• Pathology is vital for confirming a diagnosis. It can be performed to find the cause of the symptoms the patient is experiencing.
• In addition to diagnosing disease, pathology is also important for monitoring disease progression. Biopsies performed along with regular blood tests and imaging methods help doctors track the course of the disease or the response to treatment.
• Pathology tests are also used for screening to detect certain health problems early, before symptoms appear.
• Pathology tests are also vital in cancer management. From biopsies to tumor grading and margin analysis, pathologists provide data that guides chemotherapy and surgery.

Also;

• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Hormonal disorders
• Infections
• Inflammatory conditions
• Kidney disease
• Monitoring of drug levels in the blood.
• The body’s response to medications and other treatments
• Identification of vitamin deficiencies
• Pathology tests are used in many situations, such as detecting allergies.

Pathology Tests and Methods

• Routine Hematoxylin-Eosin Staining: The primary and most common technique used to visualize tissue structure under a microscope. This enables pathologists to diagnose diseases such as cancer.
• Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy: A procedure in which cells, fluid, or tissue samples are collected from suspicious masses in organs such as the thyroid, breast, or lymph nodes. The collected samples are examined under a microscope to determine whether the lesion is cancerous, benign, or infected.
• Tru-cut biopsy: A procedure in which a cylindrical tissue sample is taken from suspicious masses or tumors using a needle. Compared with fine-needle aspiration biopsy, it allows a more definitive diagnosis of cancer or disease.
• Excisional biopsy: A surgical procedure in which an entire mass or suspicious area of tissue is removed along with a small margin of surrounding healthy tissue for microscopic examination. It serves both to diagnose a disease such as cancer and as a treatment method if the lesion is benign, by completely removing it.
• Pap smear: Cells collected by swab from the cervix are examined in the laboratory. Abnormal cell changes are checked. It is also known as a cervical cancer screening test.
• Frozen section: A rapid intraoperative laboratory technique in which tissue removed during surgery is frozen, stained, and analyzed under a microscope within minutes. Details such as whether the tissue is cancerous help the surgeon decide the course of the operation.
• Body Fluid Analysis: A critical diagnostic process that involves evaluating fluids other than blood/urine, such as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), serous fluids (pleural, peritoneal, and pericardial fluids), and synovial fluids (joint fluids), to determine infection, inflammation, or malignancy (the presence of malignant disease).
• Immunohistochemistry: A specialized laboratory technique that uses antibodies to detect specific antigens (proteins) in tissue samples, helping diagnose and classify diseases such as cancer.
• Molecular pathology: Specialized tests that focus on diagnosing and characterizing diseases by examining molecules such as DNA, RNA, and proteins in organs, tissues, or body fluids. HPV genotyping is among the most commonly performed molecular tests.