Understanding the Levels of Surgical Pathology: A Comprehensive Guide

Surgical pathology has traditionally involved three surgical pathology tiers:

1) The Grossing Room: This is where tissue samples are received from the operating room. The pathologist assesses the size, shape, color, and texture of the specimen, takes appropriate sections for tissue processing and slide preparation, and examines any other necessary areas of the specimen that requires special evaluation.

2) The Microscope (Histopathology): Here the pathologist examines slides prepared from the tissue at a microscopic level to identify morphological changes and confirm the diagnosis, looking for the presence of abnormal tumor cells, or microscopic evidence of inflammation or infection.

3) Immunohistochemistry (IHC)/Molecular Pathology: This is where tissue samples are stained using special stains or immunohistochemical techniques to further characterize the pathology of the tissue, such as determining whether a tumor is malignant or benign. Some pathology labs incorporate molecular techniques, including in situ hybridization (ISH) and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for a more comprehensive diagnosis and identification of potential therapeutic options.