Anatomical pathology, also known as anatomical pathology, is a branch of the medical field that involves the examination of anatomical specimens to learn more about the processes of disease and death. Specialists in this field do everything from examining biopsy samples taken by surgeons to determine whether or not a growth is cancerous, to examining the bodies of murder victims to determine the cause of death, and gathering evidence that could be used in the investigation and prosecution.
The term "pathology" translates to "the study of suffering," and this medical discipline focuses on examining the nature, course, and resolution of disease. To become an anatomical pathologist, someone must attend medical school and complete a residency in general pathology, followed by a focus on anatomical pathology. The other main area of focus in the field of pathology is clinical pathology, in which samples of body fluids are examined in the laboratory.
There are a number of subspecialties in the field of pathological anatomy. For example, someone could focus on neuropathology, the examination of brain tissue or cytopathology, the study of cell samples. When a doctor takes a Pap smear from a woman, the tissue examination is often performed by a cytopathologist. Other specialties include molecular pathology, gynecologic pathology, endocrine pathology, dermatopathology, cardiac pathology, osteopathology, and autopsy or forensic pathology.
The goal of a pathologist is to be able to examine an anatomical specimen and determine whether the specimen is normal or abnormal and, if abnormal, to describe the abnormality. Anatomical pathology can be used in the diagnosis and treatment of disease, to do everything from confirming that an entire tumor has been removed by a surgeon to diagnosing a particular form of kidney disease from a biopsy sample.
One of the most unique specialties within the field of anatomical pathology is autopsy pathology, which involves studying deceased people to learn how they died. Autopsies are routinely requested in cases where death is suspicious or when the cause of death is unclear. In forensic pathology, the pathologist studies the body to learn not only how the person died, but when. This branch of pathology also focuses on the collection of legal evidence.
Work in the field of anatomical pathology can be varied and quite rewarding. Candidates interested in working in this area of medicine must have excellent attention to detail, along with excellent descriptive skills that allow them to clearly communicate on pathology outcomes. It can also help to have a high tolerance for unpleasant sights and strong odors, as they often appear in pathology labs.