Surgical pathology

[1] A biopsy is a small piece of tissue removed primarily for the purposes of surgical pathology analysis, most often in order to render a definitive diagnosis.

Core biopsies, which preserve tissue architecture, should not be confused with fine-needle aspiration specimens, which are analyzed using cytopathology techniques.

However, pathological analysis of these specimens is critically important in confirming the previous diagnosis, staging the extent of malignant disease, establishing whether or not the entire diseased area was removed (a process called "determination of the surgical margin", often using frozen section), identifying the presence of unsuspected concurrent diseases, and providing information for postoperative treatment, such as adjuvant chemotherapy in the case of cancer.

Many pathologists seek fellowship-level training, or otherwise pursue expertise in a focused area of surgical pathology.

Subspecialization has a number of benefits, such as allowing for increased experience and skill at interpreting challenging cases, as well as development of a closer working relationship between the pathologist and clinicians within a subspecialty area.

Malignant melanoma of the skin. This is as it would appear on the patient.
Malignant melanoma of the skin. This is a section of tissue, stained with hematoxylin & eosin , and viewed on a microscope slide.
Histologic slide demonstrating viral myocarditis, an infection of the heart muscle