A pathology report is a document that
contains the diagnosis determined by examining cells and tissues under a microscope
. The report may also contain information about the size, shape, and appearance of a specimen as it looks to the naked eye. This information is known as the gross description.
What does a pathologist look for?
A pathologist is a physician who
studies body fluids and tissues
, helps your primary care doctor make a diagnosis about your health or any medical problems you have, and uses laboratory tests to monitor the health of patients with chronic conditions.
Does a biopsy tell you what stage cancer is?
The results help your doctor determine whether the cells are cancerous. If the cells are cancerous, the biopsy results can tell your doctor
where the cancer originated
— the type of cancer. A biopsy also helps your doctor determine how aggressive your cancer is — the cancer’s grade.
How accurate are pathology reports?
Although
tests aren’t 100% accurate all the time
, receiving a wrong answer from a cancer biopsy – called a false positive or a false negative – can be especially distressing. While data are limited, an incorrect biopsy result generally is thought to occur in 1 to 2% of surgical pathology cases.
What is a cancer pathology report?
A pathology report is
a medical document that gives information about a diagnosis, such as cancer
. To test for the disease, a sample of your suspicious tissue is sent to a lab. A doctor called a pathologist studies it under a microscope. They may also do tests to get more information.
Do pathologists see patients?
A pathologist plays a crucial role in medical care. Sometimes called “the doctor’s doctor,” they help the
treating physician diagnose a patient
and pinpoint the best course of treatment.
Is it hard to be a pathologist?
Becoming a
forensic
pathologist is not easy. It takes a minimum of 13 years of education and training after high school to become a forensic pathologist. It also takes a strong stomach because it can be a gruesome, smelly and disgusting job.
What does it mean if a biopsy is positive?
Another important factor is whether there are cancer cells at the margins, or edges, of the biopsy sample. A “positive” or “involved” margin means
there are cancer cells in the margin
. This means that it is likely that cancerous cells are still in the body.
What is the most aggressive cancer?
1.
Lung and bronchial cancer
: 792,495 lives Lung and bronchial cancer is the top killer cancer in the United States. Smoking and use of tobacco products are the major causes of it, and it strikes most often between the ages of 55 and 65, according to the NCI.
Do doctors tell you if they suspect cancer?
The doctor may start by asking about your personal and family medical history and do a physical exam. The doctor also may order lab tests, imaging tests (scans), or other tests or procedures. You may also need
a biopsy
, which is often the only way to tell for sure if you have cancer.
Can a pathology report be wrong?
The reported frequency of anatomic pathologic errors
ranges from 1% to 43% of all specimens
, regardless of origin and disease, he said. The error rate for oncology is 1% to 5%.
How long do pathology reports take?
Receiving and Understanding The Results of Your Pathology Report. The pathology report may be ready in as soon
as two or three days after
the biopsy is taken. If additional testing of the tissue is necessary, the report may take longer to complete (between seven and 14 days).
Can I get my pathology results online?
Pathology and diagnostic imaging reports can be added to your My Health Record. You and
your healthcare provider
can now access your results whenever and wherever needed. These reports may include: Pathology: blood tests, urine tests, biopsies and other tests.
What is a final pathology report?
The most important part of the pathology report is the
final diagnosis
. This is the “bottom line” of the testing process, although this section may be at the bottom or the top of the page. The doctor relies on this final diagnosis to help decide on the best treatment options.
Why do pathology reports take so long?
After the first sections of tissue are seen under the microscope, the pathologist might
want to look at more sections
for an accurate diagnosis. In these cases, extra pieces of tissue might need processing. Or the lab may need to make more slices of the tissue that has already been embedded in wax blocks.
How do pathologists distinguish between normal and cancer cells?
In contrast to normal cells,
cancer cells often exhibit much more variability in cell size
—some are larger than normal and some are smaller than normal. In addition, cancer cells often have an abnormal shape, both of the cell, and of the nucleus (the “brain” of the cell.)
