Introduction to Pathology

Question 1

Define pathology

Answer 1

• The study of suffering/disease

Question 2

What techniques are used within pathology?

Answer 2

• Microscopy
• Biopsies - incision and endoscopic biopsies
• Cytology - exfoliate and fluid cytology
• Cytometry - flow cytometry
• General haematological and biochemical techniques e.g immunohistochemistry & immunofluorescence

Question 3

Outline the importance of pathology clinically

Answer 3

Allows greater understanding into the following:
- Aetiology of disease
- Pathogenesis - the mechanisms that cause symptoms
- Morphologic changes - alterations to body cells and organs caused by pathogens

Question 4

What are the 4 main focuses of the Pathology module

Answer 4

• CLINICAL PATHOLOGY i.e immunology, toxicology, haematology, medical microbiology, genomic studies, chemical pathology
• ANATOMICAL PATHOLOGY - histopathology and cytopathology
• FORENSIC PATHOLOGY
• EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY

Question 5

What role do biomedical scientists play in pathology?

Answer 5

• Carry out laboratory tests to support diagnosis and treatment of disease
• Observe visual changes in cell or tissue morphology

Question 6

Outline the importance of the following
- exfoliate cytology
- fluid cytology

Answer 6

• EXFOLIATE - microscopic analysis of cells removed from epithelial tissues - detection of malignant cells or precancerous lesions
• FLUID - fluid taken from several cavities to test for presence of cancerous cells e.g cerebrospinal and peritoneal fluid