Surgical pathology is a branch of medicine that plays an essential role in identifying, diagnosing, and treating various pathological conditions.
Surgical pathology is often associated with the examination of tissues or organs that are removed during a surgical procedure.
What is a pathologist
The analysis of these tissues or organs is performed by a pathologist, who is a physician specialized in the study of diseases.
Generally, a surgeon is responsible for removing the organ or tissue, and the pathologist performs analysis in a clinical laboratory, a fundamental step in making medical and surgical decisions.
In medicine, pathologists play a fundamental role, as their diagnoses provide key information for delivering appropriate treatment to patients. This is because they determine whether a tissue is cancerous, whether an infection is present, or whether inflammation is the result of an autoimmune disease.
Additionally, on some occasions, pathologists work closely with surgeons during surgical procedures; in this way, the pathologist can perform an analysis during surgery and provide a preliminary diagnosis that allows the surgeon to make urgent decisions on how to proceed.
What is surgical pathology
The main objective of surgical pathology is to identify the nature of a mass, lesion, or other type of abnormality in the body, which allows not only the surgeon but also the oncologist and other specialists to better understand the patient’s condition.
A surgical pathology process usually involves the microscopic evaluation of tissue samples; this sample may be obtained through biopsies or through complete resection of the affected organ.
Beyond examination under the microscope, the pathologist may also perform molecular or genetic tests in order to achieve a more accurate diagnosis.
Examples of surgical pathologies
A wide range of conditions are covered within surgical pathology, such as:
- Breast cancer: one of the most common types of cancer, especially in women, and it requires a biopsy of a suspicious breast nodule so that the pathologist can determine whether malignancy is present.
- Colorectal cancer: surgical pathology is crucial to reach the diagnosis and staging of the disease, which is achieved through the removal of suspicious polyps.
- Appendicitis: frequently, the inflamed appendix is removed and sent to a pathology laboratory; this helps confirm appendicitis or another type of condition.
- Crohn’s disease: a chronic inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract; in surgical pathology, a sample of intestinal tissue is removed to determine the degree of inflammation and characteristic structural changes.
- Melanoma: this type of skin cancer can be diagnosed through a biopsy of the suspicious skin lesion.
These are just a few examples of procedures in which surgical pathology is involved. In broader terms, it supports the study of tumors, inflammatory, infectious, degenerative conditions, and even certain genetic disorders.
This is why surgical pathology is an indispensable discipline in the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases.
Surgical pathology near me
At ABC Medical Center’s Surgery Center, we have a team of surgical pathology specialists who are highly trained and dedicated to providing comprehensive, personalized care for all your pathological needs.
Our surgical pathologists in Mexico City (CDMX) are committed to your well-being and use the latest technology and the most advanced treatments to manage the diagnosis of conditions such as breast cancer, prostate cancer, liver cirrhosis, and more.
Fuentes:
UCSD, Kids Health, MedlinePlus
