What is a pathologist?

A pathologist is the senior doctor responsible for the performance of autopsies and for the determining as to how an individual died. This particular role within the forensic science sector is a demanding and sometimes harrowing job, which is not for those faint of heart. What a Pathologist Does Indeed a pathologist will often be called upon not just to perform autopsies but to offer expert advice to law enforcement agencies as well as supervise the running of the pathology laboratory and those individuals who are employed there. Pathologists are also responsible for the supervising of a crime scene and the evidence collection process that takes place there. This is all geared towards providing the relevant authorities with as much information as possible. A pathologist will often have to juggle more than one investigation at a time and supervise teams who are charged with collating information, samples, blood and tissues. During these investigations the pathologist will have to ...  more

A pathologist is a medical doctor who has specialized after receiving his or her degree, in pathology. This specialization in the US usually means another three to four years of study and practice prior to becoming board certified as a pathologist. Pathology is, in essence, the study of blood, fluid, and tissue samples, which allow doctors to make diagnoses of various illnesses, by looking for specific factors lacking or present in these samples. In medical care, the pathologist is a very valuable part of the medical team, since many diseases are diagnosed or ruled out by microscopic and lab analysis of fluid, blood, or tissue samples. There are several subspecialties in pathology, which a pathologist might choose to enter. Some master all or at least several subspecialties so that work and career path can be more diverse. A distinction also must be made between anatomical pathologists and clinical pathologists. Most clinical pathologists oversee pathology labs, and the lab workers ...  more

A. Pathologists are medical doctors who specialize in diagnosis of disease by studying tissue samples. They make diagnosis from tissue samples removed during surgery through microscopic study. As a member of your healthcare team, their findlings help your doctor understand the nature of the disease process in a patient and plan the treatment. See our Pathologists page for more information.  more

I had surgery to remove my thyroid afew weeks ago. The nodules that they found were sent to the pathologist. They do testing on it, and to see if it was cancerous. It was. But we are dealing with it. For anything you have removed, even the veterinarian will send off stuff to be checked out.  more

A Pathologist is a medical doctor who specializes in the "study of disease". Pathologists examine tissue and body fluid specimens removed from patients and determine the diagnosis. Treatment decisions are often made based on the pathology report. Pathologists also perform autopsies and oversee clinical laboratories that analyze patients blood and body fluid specimens. Pathologists attend four years of medical school followed by three to four years of residency training in pathology. Many have also completed an additional one or two year fellowship program in a specialized area of pathology.  more

Medicine is made up of many specialties. Most of us know you see a cardiologist for a heart problem, a dermatologist for skin problems and a gynecologist for women's health issues. When then, do you see a pathologist? Maybe never, but they see you. Pathologists are physicians who diagnose and treat patients through laboratory medicine. When your cardiologist orders blood tests, a pathologist reviews the results for abnormalities; when your dermatologist removes a skin lesion for biopsy, a pathologist decides if it is cancerous; and when your gynecologist does a Pap test, a pathologist determines the result of the slide. Sometimes called the "doctor's doctor", pathologists work on your medical team along with your general physician and any other necessary specialists. By analyzing routine tests, pathologists alert your physician to any changes in your health early, when successful treatment is most likely. Pathologists use lab tests to either identify a disease or to rule out other ...

In the context of cancer diagnosis/treatment the answers would be: What and who: A doctor who is specialized in diagnosis of changes in tissue based on microscopic examination. Why: - To determine if a lump is in fact cancer - To determine if a cancer has been removed completely - To determine if a lesion in another site than the cancer is a metastasis. - To find out if various treatment options will have a chance to work. The list goes on and on. If you want to see examples of what a pathologist is looking at in terms of cancer you could visit <a href="http://www.123hjemmeside.dk/cancer_is_not_a_fungus" rel="nofollow">http://www.123hjemmeside.dk/cancer_is_no...  more

A pathologist is a physician trained in the medical specialty of pathology. Pathology is the branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis of disease and causes of death by means of laboratory examination of body fluids (clinical pathology) cell samples, (cytology) and tissues (pathologic anatomy). The autopsy is the procedure utilized to study the dead. It is primarily a systematic external and internal examination for the purposes of diagnosing disease and determining the presence of absence of injury. In modern times chemical analysis of body fluids for medical information as well as analysis for drugs and poisons should be part of any autopsy on a dead body coming under the jurisdiction of the medical examiner or coroner.  more

Among the anatomic pathologist's most essential tools is the microscope, which is used to examine body tissues, cells and fluids for signs of disease. The pathologist identifies those microscopic changes and interprets them to arrive at a diagnosis. This vital information forms the basis for patient treatment. Although pathologists have limited direct patient contact, they are essential members of the patient's primary health care team. They participate in the day-to-day care of patients by providing and interpreting laboratory information to help solve diagnostic problems and monitor the effects of therapy. Pathologists practice preventive medicine by ruling out diseases or detecting them early. They serve as consultants to other physicians regarding selection of diagnostic tests, interpretation of results, treatment options and monitoring of therapy. Pathologists also perform fine needle aspirations, and provide surgical assistance by performing rapid tissue ("frozen section") ...