Pathology
Pathologist
About this specialty
Pathology is the medical specialty that studies diseases by examining blood, body fluids, cells and tissues, usually under the microscope and with laboratory tests. Pathologists work mostly in the laboratory and play a key role in confirming diagnoses and guiding treatment for almost all medical and surgical conditions.
What they do: Pathologists analyse blood, urine and other body fluid samples, examine tissue and cell samples (biopsy, FNAC, surgical specimens) under the microscope, perform special tests like immunohistochemistry, microbiology cultures and molecular tests, and prepare detailed reports that help other doctors decide on the best treatment.
Common conditions evaluated: infections detected from blood, urine, stool and other cultures, anaemia and other blood disorders, cancers and tumours in any organ through biopsy and surgical specimens, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, hormonal and metabolic problems through lab tests, clotting and bleeding disorders, compatibility testing for blood transfusions.
When to visit: patients usually do not see a pathologist directly; your treating doctor (medicine specialist, surgeon, gynaecologist, oncologist, etc.) will send samples to the pathology laboratory. You may interact with pathology personnel when giving blood or other samples, or when you need explanation of a biopsy or lab report.
Diagnostic methods: blood tests including CBC, ESR, blood sugar, liver and kidney function, lipid profile, hormones and many others, urine and stool tests, culture and sensitivity to detect germs and choose effective antibiotics, cytology tests such as Pap smear and FNAC, histopathology of biopsies and surgical specimens to confirm cancer or other diseases, immunohistochemistry and molecular tests to subtype cancers and guide targeted therapy, coagulation tests to assess bleeding and clotting, blood bank services for safe transfusion.
Questions worth asking
Take these to your appointment.
- 1What disease or condition does my biopsy, FNAC or lab report confirm, and how confident is this diagnosis?
- 2Does the pathology report show whether my tumour is benign or cancerous, and has it spread to nearby tissues or nodes?
- 3Are there any special markers (immunohistochemistry or molecular tests) that affect my treatment options or prognosis?
- 4Do my blood and other test results suggest any serious infection, autoimmune disease or blood disorder that needs urgent treatment?
- 5Should any of my tests be repeated, and how should I keep track of my important pathology reports for future care?
Doctors in Pathologist
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