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Anatomic Pathology

Anatomic pathology focuses on the diagnosis of disease from tissue samples using these scientific tools:
- Dermatopathology – Pathologists provide consultative and diagnostic expertise in the evaluation of skin diseases, including inflammatory and neoplastic processes.
- Cytopathology and fine-needle aspiration – Cytopathology provides gynecological and non-gynecologic cytology services. Fine-Needle Aspiration is also available to provide rapid diagnoses for patients with masses or lesions.
- Pap smear – Cytopathology is also used in the diagnosis of some infectious diseases and other inflammatory conditions. A common application of cytopathology is the Pap Smear, a screening tool used to detect pre-cancerous cervical lesions that may lead to cervical cancer.
- Fine-needle aspiration biopsies – The other principal diagnostic tool of the cytopathologist is the Fine-Needle Aspiration biopsy. This technique uses a thin needle to remove a sample of cells from just beneath a patient's skin.
- Electron microscopy – The electron microscope is used to view thin specimens (tissue sections, molecules, etc.) through a beam of electrons to create an image of a specimen.
- Hematopathology – This area performs diagnostic evaluation of blood, bone marrow, lymph nodes and other lymphoid lesions to identify leukemia, lymphoma and blood disorders.
- Image analysis – Pathologists quantitatively evaluate immunohistochemical markers using image analysis for diagnosis and prognosis of cancer and other diseases.
- Immunohistochemistry – Technologists prepare tissue samples to identify specific proteins to diagnose abnormal cells such as those found in cancerous tumors.
- Molecular pathology – Specialists study disease in tissues and cells at the molecular level.
- Neuropathology – Pathologists study tissue from the brain and spinal cord to diagnose diseases of the central nervous system.
- Surgical pathology – Pathologists examine tissue removed from patients during surgery to help provide a diagnosis and determine a treatment plan.
- Renal pathology – Specialists study tissue to diagnose kidney diseases.
- Autopsy – A post-mortem examination is performed to help determine the cause of death and identify any diseases present.