Frequently Asked Questions

What is pathology?

Pathology is the study (logos) of suffering (pathos). As a science, pathology focuses on the structural and functional consequences of disease on the body.

What are the different divisions of the lab?

Laboratories are usually divided into clinical and anatomic divisions. The clinical laboratory deals mostly with testing of blood and body fluids. The clinical laboratory is further divided into four basic sections: blood banking, chemistry, hematology and microbiology. The anatomic laboratory or pathology as it is commonly referred to deals with the analysis of tissue specimens such as biopsies and surgically removed tissue.

Who runs the tests in the clinical laboratory?

The clinical laboratory scientists (medical technologists) are responsible for most of the blood and fluid analysis. They operate and maintain complex state-of-the-art equipment. These laboratory scientists are all licensed by the State of California and have four years of college and one year of internship working in a laboratory. In addition to the clinical laboratory scientists, the laboratory at SCMC has excellent laboratory assistants that assist in the testing of specimens and phlebotomists that draw the blood samples from patients. We are proud to have these professionals working in the laboratory at SCMC.

What does a pathologist do?

A pathologist is a physician who has had at least five years of postgraduate training after medical school in the field of laboratory medicine. Tissue removed in doctors’ offices and tissue excised during surgery by the surgeon is sent to the pathologist for examination under the microscope. The diagnosis that the pathologist gives to the physician helps in the treatment plan of the patient. In addition to looking at a variety of biopsies, the pathologist is the medical director for the entire laboratory, making sure that all testing is accurately performed and meaningful to the physician staff. The pathologist is frequently involved in many of the hospital committees to assure that the highest quality of medical care in the hospital is maintained.

What is a frozen section?

The surgeon may send the pathologist a sample of tissue during surgery asking him to provide a diagnosis to help guide him in the care of his patient. The surgeon might want to know if the tissue is malignant, benign, or inflammatory. He may want to know if the surgery removed all the cancer and whether his margins are clear of cancer. The pathologist will freeze the tissue in a special instrument called the cryostat and then cut a very thin section of the tissue. The specimen is placed on a glass slide and stained. The pathologist will immediately examine the tissue under the microscope and try to provide the surgeon with an answer to his question. This examination is called a frozen section and takes about 15 to 20 minutes to complete. This examination takes place while the patient is still in surgery, allowing the physician to modify his surgery if necessary.

What are your goals when examining tissue under the microscope?

Our goal is to provide the patient with the most accurate classification of the submitted tissue. It is important for the pathologist to be able to tell your “story” to those physicians caring for you in a manner and style that is clear, accurate, and meaningful. We work closely with a team of cancer specialists to correlate our findings in order to arrive at a meaningful interpretation.

Do you offer second opinions on biopsies?

We offer second opinions on all biopsies performed at other institutions. If you are scheduled to have a lesion surgically removed at SCMC and your biopsy was performed at another institution or laboratory, we strongly encourage you to have your biopsy reviewed by our pathology department prior to your scheduled operation.