An introduction to anatomical pathology

Abstract

Our experience in the Australian context is that medical students and clinicians receive minimal exposure to anatomical pathology throughout the course of their training. In this paper, we bring this topic to light by describing the process of converting an intact specimen into glass slides for microscopic analysis. We also explain how a pathological report is composed, along with brief discussions about ancillary tests, such as immunohistochemistry, special stains, and molecular testing. Our main goal is to familiarize clinicians with anatomical pathology in order to improve communication between clinicians and pathologists, as well as improve the quality of testing and patient care.