How pathology helps the neonatal surgeon

Abstract

It is axiomatic that good pathology is essential for good patient care. For too long, pathologists have viewed their central role in diagnosis and clinical management as self-evident to all. Alas, the benefits of high-quality pathological investigation are not always self-evident, and much good work has gone unrecognized or unappreciated. To some extent we have ourselves to blame in that there has been a retreat of the pathologist to the autopsy room or the laboratory with a consequent lack of visibility in the clinical arena. The reduction in the volume and scope of pathology teaching in some undergraduate curricula has led to a lessening of the background pathological knowledge of many clinicians and, thus, the common meeting ground of clinician and pathologist has diminished. In pediatrics perhaps as nowhere else, is the need for a commonality of interest so great. Fortunately, in pediatrics the pathologist, by and large, is more visible in the clinical arena than in any other area. It is necessary for us all to strive to increase the commonality of interest for the benefit of the patient.