Anatomic Pathology

What is Anatomic Pathology?

Imagine being able to explore the world under a microscope. Now imagine having that type of insight into your body and your health. This is the reality of modern pathologists. A pathologist delves into the smallest building blocks to help create the big picture when you’re dealing with an illness or disease. In the last 100 years, pathology has become a highly modernized and tech-driven practice that helps doctors and patients understand, uncover, and make critical decisions about the treatment and management of diseases.

How We Are Different

Pathology forms the basis of every physician’s thinking about a patient. We connect the dots between the latest advances in the biological sciences and traditional methods of studying disease. Specifically, we gather and perform clinical laboratory tests and microscopic exams of tissue specimens, cells, and body fluids to support the diagnosis, prognosis, treatment and management of disease and illness.

We provide laboratory application of the biologic, chemical, and physical sciences in order to uncover the causes and nature of disease, and support its diagnosis, prognosis, treatment and management over time.

Among the aspects of illness we study include the following:

• Cellular pathology
• Cell necrosis (“cell death”)
• Wound healing
• Cancer formation
• Inflammation

Resources:

• Lab Tests Online: labtestsonline.org. The Vancouver Clinic is not responsible for the accuracy of information on this website.

How do you define anatomical pathology as a specialty?

As a medical specialty, anatomic pathology is concerned with the diagnosis of disease based on the macroscopic, microscopic, biochemical, immunologic and molecular examination of organs and tissues.

Why is it called “anatomical” pathology?

Anatomical pathology primarily involves the examination of surgical specimens removed from the body. Typically, we are called upon to examine a biopsy, and consider a number of key elements, including the anatomical makeup of the sample, the microscopic appearance of cells, immunological markers, and many others.

After I see a pathologist, how do I receive my lab results?

All laboratory results are posted to your personal My Chart account. We also provide results with your physician so you can discuss them in greater detail.

Most of the biopsies or surgical specimens obtained by your provider may be sent to Pathology for examination which will result in charges from Pathology appearing on your bill. The Pathology tests will be performed only on the specimens that your provider feels are necessary and important for your treatment. If you ever have questions or concerns, you can call our clinical laboratory offices: 360-397-4480.