The human body, with its complex structure and functioning, holds secrets invisible to the naked eye. Inside, countless processes take place at every moment, some of which may disrupt the balance of health. Sometimes, these changes are not noticeable until they have already left deep marks. The challenge of understanding those alterations, often difficult to detect, has been a priority for medicine since ancient times. To uncover the mysteries of disease, professionals rely on a key discipline capable of offering a vision beyond what is visible: pathological anatomy.
Thanks to this science, we can obtain an early diagnosis and a more effective treatment, thus transforming the prognosis of many diseases.
At Ambar Lab, we support healthcare professionals with more than 3,000 laboratory tests, the development of personalized projects, and a focus on diagnostic quality. On this occasion, we explain what pathological anatomy is, what is analyzed, what tests are performed, and how the specialist physician is involved. A guide designed to help you better understand this discipline.
What is pathological anatomy?
Pathological anatomy is a branch of medicine that studies the structural alterations of cells, tissues, and organs caused by diseases. Its main goal is to detect, classify, and characterize lesions at the microscopic level to help establish accurate diagnoses, guide treatments, and predict the evolution of many pathologies.
The discipline has its roots in the 19th century, when Rudolf Virchow, considered the father of modern pathological anatomy, introduced the concept that all diseases have a cellular basis. His vision revolutionized medicine by allowing diseases to be understood from a morphological perspective. From his contributions, microscopic study became an indispensable tool in medical practice.
Today, pathological anatomy has become a pillar of modern medicine, thanks to its ability to provide accurate diagnosis, especially in complex diseases such as cancer, autoimmune disorders, and infectious diseases.
What is analyzed in pathological anatomy?
This discipline primarily examines biological samples obtained from patients: tissues, organs, fluids, and cells, which allow observation of changes at the microscopic level that would not be visible in a simple clinical examination or imaging test.
Disease diagnosis
Pathological analysis is essential to confirm clinical suspicions, especially in cases of tumors, severe infections, chronic inflammatory diseases, or degenerative disorders. In the case of cancer, for example, the pathologist determines whether a mass is benign or malignant, what type of cells are involved, their degree of aggressiveness, and whether margins are clear after surgery.
Subdivisions and specialties
Within pathological anatomy, there are different specialized areas that deal with different types of samples and techniques.
Histopathology
It is the best known branch of pathological anatomy. It focuses on the study of biological tissues obtained through biopsies or surgeries, which are processed, fixed, embedded in paraffin, cut, and stained for microscopic observation. Its goal is to evaluate the general architecture of tissues, identify inflammatory, degenerative, or tumoral processes, and classify tumors by type and grade.
Cytopathology
Cytopathology analyzes individual cells or small groups of cells, generally obtained through less invasive techniques than biopsies. A classic example is cervical cytology (Pap smear), used in cervical cancer screening. Cytology is also applied to pleural and peritoneal fluids, urine, scrapings, or through fine needle aspiration (FNA).
Molecular pathology
It is one of the most innovative and constantly growing areas. It combines pathological anatomy with molecular biology techniques to identify genetic, epigenetic, and protein alterations in cells. Techniques such as PCR, next-generation sequencing (NGS), or in situ hybridization (FISH) are used to detect mutations, gene fusions, or amplifications relevant for diagnosis, prognosis, or choosing targeted treatments, especially in oncology.
Forensic pathology
Forensic pathology applies the knowledge of pathological anatomy to the study of causes of death in unnatural circumstances, such as homicides, suicides or accidental deaths. It is carried out within a legal and judicial framework, and the forensic pathologist must prepare detailed reports that can be used as evidence in court proceedings. In addition to the macroscopic study of the body, histological and toxicological analyses are applied to clarify the causes and time of death.
Clinical autopsies
Although they share techniques with forensic pathology, clinical autopsies have a different purpose: to clarify the medical causes of a death, to evaluate the evolution of a disease, to check the efficacy of a treatment or to carry out epidemiological and educational studies. They are mainly carried out in hospital settings, with the consent of the patient’s family. Clinical autopsies are valuable for improving care quality, detecting diagnostic errors, and training new healthcare professionals.
What types of tests are performed in pathological anatomy?
Procedures in pathological anatomy require a series of technical and scientific steps to transform a sample into a rich source of diagnostic information.
Biopsies and tissue samples
Biopsy is the most common technique in this field. It consists of extracting a fragment of tissue through surgery, endoscopy, or puncture to be analyzed in the laboratory. Depending on the type of tissue and the procedure used, they are classified as incisional, excisional, or core needle biopsies.
Once obtained, the sample is fixed, processed, and embedded in paraffin to be cut into very thin slices that are examined under a microscope.
Tissue staining and microscopy
Las tinciones permiten resaltar diferentes estructuras celulares. La más habitual es la hematoxilina-eosina (H&E), que colorea los núcleos de azul y el citoplasma en tonos rosados. Otras tinciones más específicas permiten detectar microorganismos, depósitos de proteínas o componentes inmunológicos.
Staining allows highlighting different cellular structures. The most common is hematoxylin-eosin (H&E), which stains the nuclei blue and the cytoplasm in pink tones. Other more specific stains allow detecting microorganisms, protein deposits, or immune components.
Through microscopic observation of these slides, morphological alterations such as necrosis, inflammation, abnormal cell proliferation, or structural changes in the tissue can be identified.
Molecular and genetic tests
In recent years, pathological anatomy has been enhanced by integrating molecular techniques. Tests such as immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, or genetic sequencing can identify tumor markers, specific mutations, or epigenetic alterations.
This type of test is essential in personalized medicine, as it allows cancer treatments to be tailored according to the molecular characteristics of the tumor.
What does a pathological anatomy physician do?
The pathologist is the specialist responsible for the analysis and diagnosis of biological samples. Their work combines medical knowledge, laboratory techniques, and interpretation skills.
Their functions
After receiving the sample, the pathologist participates in all stages of the process: supervises its processing, interprets the results obtained through microscopy and complementary techniques, and writes a clinical report directed to the requesting physician.
In addition to diagnosis, the pathologist may participate in prognostic and predictive evaluations, especially in oncology, where their opinion is key to planning treatments such as targeted chemotherapy.
Interdisciplinary collaboration
The pathologist rarely works in isolation. They collaborate closely with oncologists, surgeons, radiologists, hematologists, and other specialists to have a more complete view of the patient and ensure that therapeutic decisions are based on rigorous and detailed information.
For example, in a surgical intervention to remove a tumor, the pathologist can perform an intraoperative study to confirm whether the margins are free of tumor cells, which determines whether the resection should be extended.
Your health in expert hands
Pathological anatomy is a fundamental medical discipline that, thanks to its detailed approach, provides a deep understanding of pathological processes and acts as essential support for clinical decision-making.
Our commitment at Ambar Lab is precisely to ensure reliable diagnoses with cutting-edge technology and a highly specialized team to address each case with maximum efficiency. Visit our website to learn about our full catalog of tests and services. If you would like more specific information about any of these tests, do not hesitate to contact us. We are here to help you take care of your health.
