Pathology

Pathology is the medical specialty that involves the study and diagnosis of diseases through the examination of tissues, organs, bodily fluids, and autopsies.

Pathologists are often called 'the doctors' doctor' because they provide the critical diagnoses that help guide clinical decision-making.

Pathologists play a central role in modern medicine, working in laboratories to analyze blood tests, biopsies, and other specimens.

There are two primary branches of pathology: anatomic pathology, which focuses on diagnosing diseases through the examination of tissue specimens (e.

g.

, biopsies, surgical specimens), and clinical pathology, which focuses on laboratory analysis of bodily fluids like blood, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid.

Subspecialties within pathology include forensic pathology (determining causes of death), cytopathology (examining individual cells for disease), and molecular pathology (using genetic techniques to diagnose disease).

Pathologists are integral in diagnosing conditions such as cancers, infections, and autoimmune diseases.

In oncology, for example, pathologists determine the type and stage of cancer by examining tissue samples, which is crucial for determining treatment plans.

Advances in molecular diagnostics and personalized medicine have placed pathology at the forefront of modern medical breakthroughs, particularly in cancer treatment.