Pathology
Introduction to course
Alan Stevens
Jim Lowe
What is Pathology?
Pathology is the study of patterns,
causes, mechanisms and effects of
illness (disease)
 To interpret symptoms and signs it is
important to know the range of
abnormalities possible in an organ
system
 Basis of differential diagnosis

Pathology clinical disciplines
Histopathology
 Haematology
 Clinical chemistry
 Immunology
 Microbiology
 Genetics

Pathology - diagnostic tool

Structural examination
– Fluid and tissue cytology
– Biopsy
– Autopsy
Pathology encompasses all
aspects of disease
Genetic function
 Physiological/biochemical function
 Structural abnormalities

– Cells
– Tissues
– Organs
Aetiology
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The root cause of a disease process
Genetic
Environmental agent
Immune
Infective
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Neoplastic
Primary inflammatory
Vascular
Iatrogenic
Pathogenesis
The molecular, physiological and
cellular mechanisms that occur after the
first injury and which lead to the
expression of a disease
 Understanding pathogenesis is
important in choosing, or developing, an
appropriate therapy

Natural history

The course of a disease process
– Untreated
– Modified by therapy

Prognosis
– Disability
– Disease-free survival
– Survival
Sequelae

The clinical and pathological
consequences of a disease process
You will never stop studying
pathology
This is a GOOD thing…
 Pathology enters all disciplines of
medicine
 Pathology is the bedrock of good clinical
medicine

– General Pathology
– Systems Pathology
Course overview - 1
Adaptation of cells to environmental
changes
 What happens to cells when they
cannot adapt and how they die
 Disorders due to abnormal cell growth,
for example cancer
 Tissue responses to injury and how
tissues heal

Course overview -2
Atheroma and disease of blood vessels
 Thrombosis and infarction
 Tumour pathology

– Classification and nomenclature
– Behaviour and diagnosis
– Causation and cell biology

Revision genetics
Course overview -3
Systems pathology continues through
the whole of the clinical course
 Pathology tutorial system with guided
reading
 Probably 40% of the content of all
examinations in clinical course consist
of pathology

Textbook
Pathology
 Written by Stevens
& Lowe
 Extremely good

Other textbooks

Range of other pathology textbooks
– Huge and comprehensive
– Review-style
– Atlas
CD ROM
Pathology
 Written by Stevens
& Lowe
 Extremely good

Delivery of course

Lectures

Private study

Clinicopathological cases

Workshops
Additional facilities...

CD ROM

CAL packages

Pathology museum

Autopsy room
Summary...
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Buy a textbook….
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Explore the museum….

Enjoy the pathology course….