Histopathology
Nature of the work
Histopathology is the diagnosis and study of
disease by expert medical interpretation of cells and tissue
samples. The specialty determines the cause of death by performing
autopsies and is integral to cancer management through staging and
grading of tumours.
Working in histopathology
Histopathologists work in the laboratory, both
in partnership with laboratory scientists and doctors from other
clinical specialties. They have an in-depth knowledge of both
pathological and clinical aspects of disease. The histopathologist
is a member of the multidisciplinary team, assessing cancer
patients and planning their further investigation and treatment. He
or she also has key responsibilities for cancer screening –
currently for breast and cervical cancer but with bowel and
prostate cancer screening on the horizon.
In many hospitals, biomedical scientists are
undertaking more of the ‘routine’ cut-up of smaller specimens, and
in some cases are also conducting microscopic examination and
report writing of cytological samples. With an increasing ability
to automate and mechanise laboratory processes, there is the
possibility that histopathology departments will no longer be
necessary at smaller hospitals, and work may be managed centrally
in dedicated histopathology centres with larger throughput
capacity.
Common procedures/interventions
Common procedures and interventions
include:
- examination and dissection of surgical resection specimens, to
select the most appropriate samples for microscope slides
- microscopic examination of tissues, with subsequent
construction of clinical reports
- carrying out fine-needle aspirations
- carrying out autopsies.
Associated sub specialties
Associated sub specialties include:
- cytopathology
- forensic pathology
- neuropathology
- paediatric pathology.
The Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath) is
drafting a proposal to obtain approval from the GMC for
dermatopathology as a sub specialty, and developing a curriculum
and qualification to support this. It is likely that other
sub-specialty groups will follow a similar route in coming
years.
A number of other sub specialties exist in
terms of special interests, such as:
- colorectal pathology
- upper GI pathology
- breast pathology
- urological pathology.
There is already increasing sub specialisation
in histopathology, as in other specialties, with a decline in the
traditional generalist histopathologist.
Further information
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