Pathology: The Backbone of Medicine

By: Dhyan Patel

Pathology

Note: This article is part of a student-run educational series on medical specialties, based on research and/or shadowing (in person or virtual), in order to educate other students who are interested in healthcare careers and may lack the ability to shadow specialists in their areas.

Background

Every diagnosis in the medical field starts with one essential question: what’s really going on inside of the patient's body? Pathologists are the doctors who answer that question. Pathologists work behind the scenes in order to uncover the causes of diseases and guide nearly every decision made in patient care.


While most patients may never meet a pathologist face to face, their work is critical. From identifying infections and cancers to analyzing biopsies and blood tests, pathologists are the foundation of modern medicine. They are the experts who transform symptoms into answers.

So, what do they do?

Pathologists specialize in studying tissues, cells, and body fluids in order to diagnose diseases. They interpret lab results, examine specimens under the microscope, and provide critical information to other physicians in order to treat their patients effectively.


There are two main branches of pathology

  • Anatomic pathology - this focuses on examining tissues, organs, and biopsies. For example, a pathologist may analyze a tumor removed during surgery to determine if it's cancerous or not. Or they may see how aggressive it is

  • Clinical pathology - this deals with the laboratory aspect of testing blood, urine, and other bodily fluids. This includes running and interpreting tests for infections, blood disorders, metabolic diseases, and more.


In many hospitals, pathologists oversee clinical laboratories in order to ensure that tests are accurate, safe, and reliable.

Additional Information

Every sample of blood, tissue, or spinal fluid tells a story about what is going on inside of the body, and pathologists interpret that story. Under a microscope, pathologists can identify subtle cellular changes that distinguish normal tissues from disease. They may use a variety of methods such as immunohistochemistry (straining tissues with special antibodies), molecular tests, or genetic sequencing to detect abnormalities that are invisible to the eye.

Required education and training

Becoming a pathologist is as difficult as any other career in the medical field. First these types of doctors must earn their bachelor's degree and must complete medical school. After that they must enter a residency in pathology that typically lasts four years. During their residency, they learn to interpret lab tests, analyze tissue samples, and understand diseases. Many people may also choose to pursue fellowships to specialize in areas such as:

  • Forensic pathology - determining causes of death and working with medical examiners

  • Hematopathology - studying blood diseases and cancers like leukemia

  • Cytopathology - diagnosing disease through individual cells such as in Pap smears

  • Molecular genetic pathology - analyzing DNA to detect genetic disorders and mutations.

Importance

Pathology is the backbone of medicine. Without accurate lab results, tissue analysis, and diagnostic reports, doctors wouldn’t know what diseases they are treating or how to treat them at all. Pathologists help doctors deal with these diseases and interpret results to find the cause of issues in order to help save their patients.

References

American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine. (2023, December 19). What Does a Pathologist Do? AUC School of Medicine. https://www.aucmed.edu/blog/what-does-a-pathologist-do-and-how-to-become-one

ASCP. (2019). Pathologist. Ascp.org. https://www.ascp.org/careers-fellowships/careers-in-the-laboratory/pathologist#:~:text=Cytopathology:%20Studying%20cells%2C%20such%20as,diagnosing%20tissues%20removed%20by%20surgeons.

Cleveland Clinic. (2023, January 17). What Is a Pathologist? What They Do, Training & Types. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/24616-pathologist

MedEd University. (2024, April 21). Auto Draft. MedEd University. https://meded.university/what-to-expect-during-your-first-year-of-pathology-residency/#:~:text=Overview%20of%20Pathology%20Residency,a%20ton%20of%20information%20quickly.

Medical University of the Americas. (2021, September 14). What do pathologists do? | Clinical pathology | MUA. Medical University of the Americas. https://www.mua.edu/blog/what-do-pathologists-do

Medschoolcoach. (2021, February 8). Pathology with Dr. Vanessa Smith - Virtual Pre-Med Education by MedSchoolCoach. Virtual Pre-Med Education by MedSchoolCoach. https://shadowing.medschoolcoach.com/lessons/pathology-with-dr-vanessa-smith/

Ross University School of Medicine. (2024). What Does a Pathologist Do and How To Become One? Ross University School of Medicine. https://medical.rossu.edu/about/blog/what-does-a-pathologist-do-and-how-to-become-one

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