Sub-disciplines
Pathology has many sub-disciplines and the following are but a few examples:
- Chemical Pathology
- Microbiology, virology and serology. Some individuals may indeed be qualified in only one of the sub-sets i.e. virology.
- Immunology
- Haematopathology
- Histopahtology
- Cytopathology
Some disciplines of pathology require specific interaction with every single specimen analysed. This is predominantly histopathology where a pathologist reports on every individual case. To a lesser extent this also applies to cytopathology which is dealt with by histopathologists or specialist cytopathologists. Histopathologists also performs services outside the laboratory by performing frozen sections inside theatres to ensure appropriate surgical therapy for patients during operations.
Haematopathologists perform a similar role of individual diagnosis with specific specimens, but also perform a more general overseeing role within their laboratory discipline.
Chemical pathologists oversee the range of tests done.
Microbiologists and virologists are actively involved in infection control and liaise with hospitals in the process of evaluating specific trends in bacterial growth and advising about antibiotic susceptibility and resistance.
Many pathologists are involved with post-graduate training at medical faculties by lecturing and also individual tuition by histopathologists who practice morphology (forensic pathology).
Pathologists frequently lecture to undergraduate medical students and doctor groups to assist in the appropriate use of laboratory testing.
Pathology laboratories distribute laboratory updates to clinicians informing them about the appropriate use of specific testing methodologies and the appropriate interpretation of results.
This is predominantly histopathology where a pathologist reports on every individual case. To a lesser extent this also applies to cytopathology which is dealt with by histopathologists or specialist cytopathologists. Histopathologists also performs services outside the laboratory by performing frozen sections inside theatres to ensure appropriate surgical therapy for patients during operations.
Haematopathologists perform a similar role of individual diagnosis with specific specimens, but also perform a more general overseeing role within their laboratory discipline.
The role of the pathologist is primarily to create the overall structure within which the analytical processes occur and to supervise and ensure the occurrence. This includes the management structure, selection of appropriate test methodologies, equipment and reagents and the constant evaluation of the quality control of results being produced.
Pathologists view individual results and authorise these results for printing and distribution.
Pathologists receive many telephone calls from doctors consulting about specific patients and/or broad disease processes.
Pathologists telephone doctors to discuss results when there is a specific group of abnormalities pointing to a diagnosis.
Pathologists from different sub-disciplines frequently consult one another to discuss patient results and diagnostic enquiries from clinicians.
