PATHOLOGY - Overview Flashcards
What is pathology?
The study of disease in the whole body
What is the importance of pathology?
- Understand how a disease works
- Disease diagnosis
- Disease treatment
- Disease prevention
What is disease?
Any alteration from the normal, healthy state - whether or not this is clinically apparent
What are the roles of clinical pathologists?
To examine haematology, clinical biochemistry, cytology and fluid cytology
What are the roles of anatomic pathologists?
To examine biopsies, necropsies/post-mortems
What are the roles of skin pathologists?
To examine samples of the skin to identify any underlying causes of disease
- Includes punch biopsies, incision biopsies and excision biopsies
Define aetiology
Aetiology is the underlying cause of disease
Define pathogenesis
Pathogenesis is the development of disease
Define aetiopathogenesis
Aetiopathogenesis is the combination of the aetiology and pathogenesis of a disease
What are the two main disease classifications?
- Simple disease (only one aetiological factor)
- Multifactorial disease (more than one aetiological factor)
List and define the four different types of multifactorial disease
- Congenital: disease present at birth
- Acquired: disease acquired throughout life
- Idiopathic: disease with no known cause
- Iatrogenic: disease that develops directly after medical/surgical intervention
What is diagnosis?
A concise statement or conclusion concerning the nature, cause or name of disease
What is gross diagnosis?
Diagnosis made on the basis of post-mortem examination
What is histological diagnosis?
Diagnosis made on the basis of the microscopical examination of tissue sections
What is morphological diagnosis?
Diagnosis which summarises predominant lesions/structural changes
